Saturday, February 28, 2015

The Days of Our Life - By Charles W. Wages






"So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

Much is being said and written about accountability in every medium of communication today. It means different things to different people, but what place does it have in the life of a believer in Christ? God is not particularly interested in the counting of our days as He is in our being accountable for our words and deeds. Most of us are not really serious about the day by day business of living for the Lord.

The Psalmist spoke of "spending our years as a tale that is told" (verse 9). It appears that he was pointing up the fact that life is often taken lightly or as fiction instead of fact. Some people go through life in a "make-believe" world like Cinderella or Snow White. Others follow the view of "eat, drink, and be merry," never thinking that they really will die in time.

To "number" our days simply means to make our time count for the Lord as we realize that we are accountable to God. We must realize that the quality of our days is more important than the quantity of our days. If we are not careful we are in danger of letting our lives gradually slip away without accomplishing God's "ordained good works." The captain of a ship often does not realize that an anchor is slowly slipping until it is too late.

Oftentimes we become too familiar with important things, and we fail to see the real reasons for them. The story is told of a man in a restaurant who called the waiter and said, "I cannot eat this soup." The waiter became alarmed, thinking something was wrong with the soup. He called the manager, who in turn called the chef from the kitchen. They all asked in chorus, "Why can't you eat the soup?" the man replied, "I don't have a spoon."

We might well ask, what is the purpose in numbering our days? The answer is quickly forthcoming from God—"that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."

God's ancient people used to say, "that we may bring home a heart of wisdom." This can often be accomplished by not rushing through life. I read not long ago of a man who waited two weeks in line to watch men travel at 140 m.p.h. in cars. In reverse, an old military expression used to read, "hurry up and wait." It is wonderful to see and feel God work every day. That most beautiful passage in Lamentations 3:22-26 is always appropriate.

"It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; Therefore will I hope in him. The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord."

It is very instructive to see that when the children of Israel were in the wilderness, God only gave them bread enough for a day at a time (Exodus 16:4). Not only did this allow them to know that God was the giver of every good gift, but served as a test of their dependence on the One that delivered them. This dependence required their faith in God to be exercised every day. It also gave them a means or source of continual rejoicing. It is a wonderful and exhilarating feeling to see God work in the fulfilling of our needs. The Lord led Paul to say,

"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:19)

We must understand that God supplies our needs not only for us to rejoice, but that we may be able to serve Him. The provision of God should not be used to satiate the flesh or even satisfy a spiritual longing, but rather to bring glory to His name.

In closing, it must be seen that we need to be taught how to "number" our days. In order for this to be accomplished we must feed upon Christ and His Word every day. The most responsible or accountable persons are those who look to God for their strength (Phil. 4:13) through food He supplies, continually rejoice in His bountiful provisions, and "apply their hearts unto wisdom." May we all be diligent to follow and apply these fundamental principles in our own lives.

The Two Witnesses - Pastor John LaVier (Click Here)

Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)




How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.

Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4






(A 10 Minute Video)




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cspivey1953@gmail.com

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Until When? - by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam



Until When? 
 by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


One of the greatest prophecies of Scripture is found in Psalm 110:1 where David wrote: "The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool."

In Matt. 22:41-46 our Lord explained that this was a prophecy about Himself, David’s Son and Lord. Men might hate Him and cry "Away with Him!" They might nail Him to a tree and laugh and sneer at Him, but God the Father responds by saying: "Here, come sit at My right hand until I make your enemies your footstool."

We should never forget that according to Bible prophecy God’s response to man’s rejection of Christ was to be judgment and wrath. In Psalm 2 the question is asked why the nations rage and the people of Israel imagine a vain thing: that they can get along without the One whom God has anointed to be King. The Psalm depicts God laughing at their attempts to thwart His purposes and predicts that "the Lord shall have them in derision" and "speak unto them in His wrath."

At Pentecost all was ready for the judgment to fall. Christ had been crucified and "the last days" had begun, as Peter declared in Acts 2:16,17, quoting from the prophet Joel. But strangely, while some of Joel’s prophecy was fulfilled, or began to be fulfilled, at that time, the rest of it was not, for God did not — and has not yet — sent the prophesied judgment.

Thank God, in infinite grace He interrupted the prophetic program, delayed the remainder of its fulfillment and revealed to the Apostle Paul His secret purpose to offer to His enemies everywhere salvation and reconciliation by free grace, through faith in the crucified, risen Savior. In His Ephesian letter the Apostle asks whether they have heard of "the dispensation of the grace of God, which is given me to you-ward; how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery" (Eph. 3:1-3). Now, thank God, His eternal purpose in Christ is no longer a secret. While the day of grace lasts we may be "justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).



 Transformed By Grace  -
Kevin Sadler


Transformed By Grace #1 - Unity in Christ
Transformed By Grace #2 - One Body in Christ
Transformed By Grace #3 - The Apostle of Grace
Transformed By Grace #4 - The Gifts of Christ


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Friday, February 27, 2015

The Bible - By Pastor Paul M. Sadler




Earlier this year, my wife and I had an opportunity to visit the "Dead Sea Scrolls and the Bible" exhibit at the Milwaukee Museum. When we entered the exhibit, we were given a small hand-held recorder about the size of a cell phone. As we made our way through the exhibit, we simply punched in the number of the display and were given an explanation of the scroll, book, or artifact and its significance.

In addition to the Dead Sea Scrolls there were numerous biblical artifacts that took you back in time to the days of our Lord. For example, there was a display of the coinage of the period that was embossed with an image of Caesar. This would have been the same type of coin the Lord pointed to when He answered the question of the Pharisees and the Herodians about paying tribute to Caesar (Mark 12:13-17). There was also an exhibit of oil lamps, one of which would have been the type used in the Parable of the Ten Virgins. It was interesting to see how the five wise virgins would have trimmed their lamps (Matt. 25:1-10).

The most fascinating part of the exhibit was the Dead Sea Scrolls, which incorporated the development of the English Versions of the Scriptures, as well as the Guttenberg Bible, the first Bible ever produced on a printing press. I personally accept by faith that we have the Word of God today. But for the skeptic or critic who questions the Word of God, the Dead Sea Scrolls clearly show the providential care of God.

For example, the oldest copy of the Torah prior to the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls would have been about the 10th Century. The Torah is the first 5 Books of the Hebrew Bible ascribed to Moses. Archeologists date the Dead Sea Scrolls between the 1st Century B.C. and the first half of the 1st Century A.D. They were discovered in caves on the sheer rock face of the northwest shore of the Dead Sea by a Bedouin shepherd in 1947. Despite the vast period of time between these two sets of manuscripts there is an amazing continuity, especially in regard to sense. For example:

The English translation of Deuteronomy 8:19 from the 10th Century (Hebrew Masoretic Text) states:

"I testify against you this day that ye shall surely perish."

When the Scholars translated this same passage from the Dead Sea Scrolls manuscripts it came out as follows in English:

"I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed."

Hopefully, you will have an opportunity to visit this exhibition which is touring the country; it is well worth your time.


The Two Witnesses - Pastor John LaVier (Click Here)


How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.

Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)

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Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Enemies Of The Cross - By Pastor Paul M. Sadler



Enemies Of The Cross
Pastor Paul M. Sadler

Scripture Reading:

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things."— Philippians 3:18, 19

During the Apostle Paul’s visits to Europe he had frequently warned the Philippians about those who were nothing more than deceivers. It is apparent that the problem in the assembly had greatly intensified for Paul writes, "I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping." These men are labeled by the apostle as "the enemies of the Cross of Christ." They may have appeared outwardly religious but in reality they were ungodly, self-seeking, arrogant, sensual men who were destitute of faith.

There are three indictments that are handed down against these workers of iniquity: First, in the order of enumeration is the statement, "whose end is destruction." Surely this cannot be said of the saved. On the other hand the unsaved will experience everlasting destruction as foretold in II Thessalonians 1:7-9. Secondly, notice the object of their worship. Were they worshipping the true and living God? No! their god was their belly — sensuality, which produced the insatiable desire to satisfy the appetites of the flesh. Thirdly, we are told they set their affections solely on worldly things such as: philosophy, intellectualism, power, popularity, fortune, etc.

Little wonder Paul calls them enemies of the Cross, "they had a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof." These emissaries of Satan had no desire to understand the preaching of the Cross, whereby they could be justified from all things. Things haven’t changed very much, today these imposters brazenly substitute the gospel message with the doctrine of positive thinking, which has led many to a false sense of security in thinking that they are right with God. Sad to say, that even some believers have fallen under the spell of this insidious teaching. Sir Walter Scott said of those who are given to deception:

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave,

when first we practice to deceive."

Thankfully, even though the gospel is sometimes hindered, it continues to be the "power of God unto salvation." Beware of the enemies of the Cross, they are among us even at this hour.


 How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
ead Acts 16L31 Romans 1:16, and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


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cspivey1953@gmail.com


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Monday, February 23, 2015

How Full Is Your Assurance? - By Pastor Ricky Kurth


"For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for you, and for them… That their hearts might be comforted… unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding…" (Colossians 2:1,2)

There is nothing worse than running low on assurance! During the gas shortage of the ‘70s, I was traveling from Illinois to Minnesota for a fishing trip with my father, when we began to run low on fuel. As we looked for a place to fill up, we were alarmed to find that one gas station after another had posted an "Out of Gas" sign. Suddenly all assurance that we wouldn’t find ourselves stranded along the Interstate was gone!

While the assurance that a full tank of gas can give is a comfortable thing, the assurance of salvation is infinitely and eternally better! No wonder the Apostle Paul was willing to endure "great conflict" for the saints to whom he ministered, that their hearts might be comforted by "the full assurance" that can be ours with a proper "understanding" of how simple faith saves us in the dispensation of grace (Colossians 2:1,2).

But as we rightly divide the Word of truth (II Timothy 2:15), we find that to obtain the assurance of salvation, God required more than just faith of the Hebrews. In Hebrews 10:22, for instance, we read:

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water."

Here we see that in a day when God required water baptism for the remission of sins (Mark 1:4; 16:16; Acts 2:38; I Peter 3:21), Hebrews could not enjoy "full assurance of faith" unless their bodies were "washed with pure water." Of course! While men have always been saved by faith, when God required certain works as an expression of that faith, there could be no salvation without a performance of whatever work He required 1, and no assurance apart from that expression of faith.

We see this again in I John 3:17-19:

"But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?… let us not love in word…but in deed and in truth. And hereby we know that we… shall assure our hearts before Him."

Clearly, if John’s readers wanted to assure their hearts, they had to express their faith by sharing "this world’s good" (things like food and clothing) with fellow Hebrews in need of these things. Here it must be remembered that John wrote these words with the coming Great Tribulation in view 2. After the Beast issues his mark, many Hebrews will find themselves unable to buy this world’s good without it (Rev. 13:17). Thus God has ordained that men seeking salvation in that day must express their faith by helping Hebrews in need (James 2:14-17 cf. Matthew 25:31-46). Under this arrangement, there can be no salvation without these works, and no assurance of salvation apart from these mandatory expressions of faith.

Nor could this brotherly benevolence be a one-time occurrence. Such charity will have to be maintained throughout the duration of the Tribulation, as we see in Hebrews 6:10,11:

"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love…in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end.

The words "unto the end" here help us understand the meaning of verses like Matthew 24:13, where Hebrews were told, "He that endureth to the end shall be saved." In a day when "the love of many shall wax cold" (v. 12), true believers will maintain their love for their brethren by continuing to supply them with this world’s goods all the way to the end of the Tribulation. Of course, this will become increasingly difficult as Daniel’s seventieth week wears on, especially since true believers will themselves be unable to buy food or clothing without taking the mark. No wonder these Hebrews are exhorted to "shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end." There can be no assurance of salvation in that day without continuing in these necessary expressions of faith.

How then can believers today enjoy "the full assurance" Paul described in our text? Well, notice that Paul speaks of "the full assurance of understanding" (Colossians 2:2). To attain the full assurance of salvation today, in the dispensation of grace, God does not ask us to do something, He asks us to understand something. And He doesn’t leave us guessing as to what it is we must understand, for Paul goes on to talk about "the acknowledgment of the mystery" (2:2). The only way to enjoy the full assurance of faith today is to acknowledge that the mystery has introduced an era in which works are no longer required as expressions of faith. There can be no assurance of salvation without an "understanding" and an "acknowledgment" of this dispensational change.

Many suspect that the gas shortage of the ‘70s was man-made, designed to drive up the price of gasoline. While we know nothing of this, we do know that if you are suffering from a shortage of assurance, it is a man-made shortage, caused by men (perhaps wellmeaning men) who taught you God’s Word without rightly dividing it. But we trust that the "understanding" we have shared in this article will enable you to rejoice with us in "all riches of the full assurance of underst.



Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)


How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.

Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4






(A 10 Minute Video)




Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey

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Saturday, February 21, 2015

The Logic of the Plan of Salvation - by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


The Logic of the Plan of Salvation 
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam


In I Cor. 1:22 we are told that “the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom.”  This is doubtless why God chose Paul, with his profound intellectual background and acumen, to proclaim “Christ crucified,” the “wisdom of God” as well as the “power of God” (I Cor. 1:23,24).

Paul was a gifted logician as well as a theologian, and nowhere is this more evident than in his epistle to the Romans, where, by divine inspiration, he presents the logic of God’s plan of salvation. Again and again, throughout the epistle, he uses that word so prominent in mathematics and in logic: “therefore.” “Therefore thou art inexcusable…” (Rom. 2:1).

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

“But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested….  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without the deeds of the law” (3:21,28).

“Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ; by whom also we have access…” (5:1,2).

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus” (8:1).

“Therefore, brethren, we are debtors…” (8:12).

“I beseech you therefore… that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service (Rom. 12:1).

It is an inexorable, unchangeable law that sin results in death. But the Lord Jesus Christ, “who did no sin,” took our place and “died for our sins.” Thus it is also an unchangeable law that “He that hath the Son hath life.” “The law of the Spirit” is “life in Christ.” The moment one trusts Christ as Savior the Spirit gives him life, the life of Christ, which is everlasting — indeed, eternal life (Rom. 8:2; I John 5:12).



Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)




How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


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Thursday, February 19, 2015

Jesus Christ the Same - By John LaVier

 
(Written May 1953)

        A verse that has been much misunderstood is Hebrews 13:8. There we read: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Along with this verse we ought to read the verse following, which says, "Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines," for many divers and strange doctrines have been taught using Hebrews 13:8 as a proof text. There are those who say that since Jesus Christ is the same, we should expect Him to work in the same manner today as He did in the days of yore. They are trying to duplicate the miracles of Jesus of Nazareth and the result is confusion and fanaticism.

Jesus Christ is ever the same insofar as His essential character and deity are concerned. He is the unchanging One, reminding us of Psalm 102:25-27, "Of old hast Thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of Thy hands. They shall perish, but Thou shalt endure: yea, all of them shall wax old like a garment; as a vesture shalt Thou change them, and they shall be changed. But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end." Yes, He is ever the same, and He could truly say, "I am the Lord, I change not." He is the Eternal Christ, the first and the last, the beginning and the end, the Alpha and the Omega, the Lord God Almighty.

But though Christ is the same as to His Person, even the most casual study of the Word ought to convince us that His program for His people is not always the same. When Christ was here upon earth He was a minister of the circumcision (Romans 15:8), sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 15:24). If He is still in this character today there is not much hope for the Gentiles. He was in the midst of Israel as their Messiah and King, and they were preaching the gospel of the kingdom and all the kingdom signs were being manifested. However, Israel would not receive Him as King, and so the kingdom program was postponed. After the death and resurrection of Christ, and after Israel refused the offer of repentance in the book of Acts, God turned away from the Jew and turned to the Gentile. Then He brought in the dispensation of grace, the Secret made known through Paul, and what He is doing today is something far different than what He was doing when the Lord Jesus Christ was here upon earth.

In Matthew 9:35 we read that Jesus went about preaching the gospel of the kingdom. Then in Matthew 10:5-7 He commissioned the disciples, commanding them not to go to the Gentiles, but only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and they were to preach that the kingdom of heaven was at hand. Now this is certainly not God’s message for the present dispensation. Instead of preaching the gospel of the kingdom today we are to preach the gospel of the grace of God, and that is an entirely different thing. The gospel of the kingdom had to do with the establishment here upon earth of the visible, Messianic kingdom that was promised in the Old Testament Scriptures, with Israel in the place of supremacy as the head and not the tail. The gospel of the grace of God is God’s good news that while Israel is for a season set aside, He is reaching out to all mankind, and that today "there is no difference between the Jew and the Gentile: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him, and whosoever (Jew or Gentile) shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Romans 10:12). God is willing to save by grace any sinner who will put their trust in His Son. We are saved by grace, apart from Israel’s law and apart from human works of any kind, and it is through faith, without sight or signs of any kind.

When the Lord was here on earth He was presented as King, the promised Messiah and Redeemer of Israel. When He came into Jerusalem in lowly humiliation, riding on an ass’s colt, the people went forth to meet Him, and cried, "Hosanna! Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord" (John 12:13). Now we see Him in a new position, in heavenly exaltation, at God’s right hand, and He is not there as King of Israel but as Head of the Church, His Body. Now those who are saved are likewise made to sit at God’s right hand, as members of Christ’s Body, with a heavenly hope and calling. There is assuredly a big difference between the kingdom to be established here on earth, and the Body of Christ completed and caught up in the rapture to meet the Lord in the air and to be forever with Him in glory.

Yes, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever, and He never changes, but He has surely changed His program for His people in this dispensation.


Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)




How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


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cspivey1953@gmail.com


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Wednesday, February 18, 2015

RECONCILED UNTO GOD IN ONE BODY - By FLOYD BAKER, Pastor




Scripture Reading: Ephesians 2: 16

"And that he might reconcile both unto God in one Body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby." Our word reconcile comes from the Greek word APOKATALLASSO and has the meaning, "to reconcile completely; to change from one condition to another, so as to remove all enmity and leave no impediment to unity and peace" (W.E.Vine). In your study of the Scriptures it is important to remember that the WORLD has been conciliated to God (11 Corinthians 5:19) but the believer is reconciled to God. In both instances it is God who has taken the initiative and in 11 Corinthians the appeal is to the unsaved to be conciliated to God while in Ephesians the action is completed. Believing Jews and Gentiles are not reconciled to each other but both to God with the end result being ONE BODY.

We see in our context starting with verse 11 that the Gentiles were "afar off, while the Jews were nigh." The Body of Christ is God's special purpose for the present administration and is called a "new man," and is not to be confused with His kingdom people and program. These are not Jews of the kingdom program becoming members of the Body of Christ but those who have been saved into the Body of Christ. We see that it is all made possible by the cross. To the Jew the cross was a stumbling block and to the Greek foolishness, but to us who believe, the power and the wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:23,24). With Paul we declare, "Unto him glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."



Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)

 How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


Posted By Cecil  and Connie Spivey 

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Tuesday, February 17, 2015

God's Eternal Purpose - By C. R. Stam

 
God's Eternal Purpose 
 By C. R. Stam

Have you ever considered carefully the opening words of the Bible? “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Why doesn’t it simply say that God created the Universe? Why the heaven and the earth?

As we go on reading we find the answer to this question, for the Bible clearly teaches that God has a two-fold purpose; one having to do with the earth and the other with heaven. The former is the subject of prophecy, while the latter is the subject of the “mystery”, or secret, revealed to and through St. Paul. (See Acts 3:21; and cf. Romans 16:25). The former concerns Israel and the nations; the latter “the Body of Christ”, the Church of the heavenly calling.

Some people are surprised to learn that there is not one promise in the whole Old Testament about going to heaven. There the whole outlook is earthly, with Messiah reigning as King (Jer.23:5; et al). When our Lord appeared in the flesh the angels cried: “Peace on earth” (Luke 2:14). He Himself said that “the meek” shall “inherit the earth” (Matt.5:5). He taught His disciples to pray: “Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven” (Matthew 6:10).

Even at Pentecost Peter declared that after “the restitution of all things” God would send Jesus back to earth and the times of refreshing would “come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19-21.

Not until the raising up of Paul do we learn that now all believers in Christ are “baptized into one body” (I Corinthians 12:13), and Colossians 1:5 and many other Pauline passages, speak of “the hope which is laid up for you IN HEAVEN”. Indeed, before God, believers are already given a position “in heavenly places” and are “blessed with all spiritual blessings IN [THE] HEAVENLIES in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3; 2:4-7).

The prophecies regarding the Kingdom, however, will still be fulfilled and Christ will reign on earth and bring the promised “times of refreshing”. Thank God, this world will not forever be a place of war and bloodshed, sickness and death, misery and woe. Indeed, at that time, heaven and earth will be opened to each other, and thus will be fulfilled God’s two-fold purpose: “That in the dispensation of the fulness of times He might gather together in one all things in Christ…” (Ephesians1:10).




How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


E-mail this BIBLE STUDY to all your friends 








Good News From Calvary - By C. R. Stam



All through the Old Testament the cross is but dimly seen. Though a hundred historical characters and a hundred more Levitical sacrifices and rituals were typical of Christ and His finished work, not once does the Old Testament state this. The silence is profound. The clearest Old Testament prophecy of Christ’s death, Isaiah 53, does not even specify who the Sufferer would be.

It was the same during our Lord’s stay on earth, for only toward the close of His ministry do we read: "From that time forth began Jesus to show unto His disciples how that He must go unto Jerusalem and suffer… and be killed…" (Matthew 16:21). And what was their response? "Then Peter took Him and began to rebuke Him" (Ver. 22). Luke 18:34 states three times that they did not have the slightest idea that He would even die, much less did they understand all that His death would accomplish. Even at Pentecost Peter blamed his hearers for the death of Christ and said to them: "repent and be baptized every one of you… for the remission of sins" (Acts 2:38). The twelve were preaching "the gospel of the kingdom" and knew little about the cross and its purpose.

Not until the Apostle Paul, that other apostle, do we have what is properly called "the preaching of the cross," i.e., as good news. And in Paul’s great message our Lord is no longer seen as the Victim, but as the Victor, not merely after death, or over death, but in death. His death itself is seen as His greatest triumph. In Hebrews 10:12,14 we read:

"…after He had offered one sacrifice for sins [He] sat down… for by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified."

And in Colossians  2:14,15 Paul describes Christ at Calvary nailing the Law to the cross and utterly defeating Satan and his hosts, "triumphing over them in it (i.e., in the cross)." Little wonder the Apostle exclaimed

"God forbid that I should boast, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ…" (Galatians 6:14).

Grace Bible Church  (Click Here)




How God Saves Men
Believing Christ DIED, that’s HISTORY.
Believing Christ DIED for YOU SINS and Rose again that’s SALVATION.
Read Romans 1:16, Romans 10:9-10 and 1. Corinthians 15:1-4


(A 10 Minute Video)


 Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey
cspivey1953@gmail.com


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