THE REASON OF OUR HOPE! - J. C. O'Hair

Let us prayerfully consider the Holy Spirit’s exhortation to believers in I Peter 3:15 and 16. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evil doers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.”

If Christians are to give an answer to those who ask the reason of the hope in them, Christians should sanctify the Lord God in the heart. They should also have a good conscience and a good conversation in Christ. They should expect to be falsely accused as evil doers. Think of Paul, the pattern, who suffered in jail as an evil doer. (I Timothy 1:16 - II Timothy 2:8 and 9). The Son of God was falsely accused of being an evil doer and He died between two evil doers, for all evil doers. Read II Timothy 1:8 and 12.

According to John 4:35 to 38, Romans 10:12 to 15, II Corinthians 5:18 to 21, II Timothy 4:5, Christians should not wait for the question before they give a reason of the hope that is in them. Neither should they limit this answer to Sunday. The exhortation is “always”. “Be ready always.” This means to know and practice the truth of II Corinthians 4:5 and 6 and Philippians 2:15 and 16: “For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the Word of life.”

The God of hope wants to fill every Christian with joy and peace in believing. (Romans 15:13). Our heavenly Father wants every Christian to know the truth of Romans 8:15 - “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba Father.”

God wants every Christian to have the “know-so” salvation mentioned in I John 5:13 and Romans 8:32 to 39. If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).

This is the reason why every Christian should know the truth of I Corinthians 1:30, Galatians 6:14, I Peter 3:18, Romans 4:4 and 5 and I Corinthians 15:10. That no flesh can glory in God’s presence. That Christians glory only in the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ. That God’s righteousness is given unto them that work not, but believe on Christ Who once suffered for our sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God. That by the grace of God the Christian is what he is, any and all the acceptable good works that he does is by the grace of God. These good works are to be done heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men, and in the name of the Lord Jesus. (Colossians 3:23 - Colossians 3:17).

In Revelation 12:9 Satan is accused of deceiving the whole world. In II Corinthians 11:3, the Holy Spirit, by Paul, said, “I fear, lest by any means as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” In the same chapter we earn that Satan transforms himself into an angel of light and has under his control religious messengers who claim to represent Christ (II Corinthians 11:13 to 15). By Satan and his messengers many religious people are deluded into believing a lie.

Christians are to have confidence and assurance (Philippians 1:6 - II Corinthians 5:6 - Hebrews 6:18 and 19), but in stating the reason of their hope they should do so with meekness and fear.

When we are thoroughly established in the truth of Ephesians 2:8 to 10, II Timothy 1:9 and 10 and Titus 3:5 to 8, we can give a clear testimony as to why we know we are saved and on the way to heaven

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 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

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The Divine Mirror! - By C. R. Stam

In the divine Mirror, the Bible, we may behold ourselves or we may behold Christ.

It is well to use it first to behold ourselves and see the ruin sin has brought. But let us not stop here. Let a man look into a mirror and find the sun in it and the glory will be reflected in his face. And so it is with the Word. When we see ourselves in it we must necessarily be disappointed, but when we look for Him in the Word and find Him there, His glory casts its reflection upon us!

What need have we then to hide our faces? If David could say, “They looked unto Him, and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed” (Psalms 34:5), how much more should this be said of us! We know, or should know, more of Him than those of David’s day, and those Scriptures specially addressed to us send us forth, not to proclaim God’s righteous demands, but to proclaim Christ, the righteous One, who met these demands at Calvary and offers justification and life to all.

And as, in our study of the Scriptures, we turn from the shame of man to the glory of Christ; as we behold Him and see all we have and are in Him, we become constantly more like Him, “changed into the same image from glory to glory” (II Corinthians 3:18).

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

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COLOSSIAND CHAPTER 1:22- . By Charles Schiedler

"but now you were reconciled in the body of his flesh through death to present you holy and blameless and irreproachable in his presence," 

The Greek phrase translated "but now" (nuni de) consists of the conjunction "De" with the adverb "nuni " and may be rendered but in the now or present time. Having discussed the Colossians' former, estranged and hostile relation to God in the previous verse, Paul shifts gears by use of this phrase to show their present standing with God. Paul's use of "nuni de" here and in comparable passages clearly denotes a change in God's reconciliatory program from His exclusive, legal relation to Israel to that which is centered in the shed Blood of Jesus Christ for both Jews and Gentiles in this present Church age (Rom. 3:21; Eph. 2:13). 

The word translated "you were reconciled" comes from three words, which literally in reverse order mean to change down from. Good English equivalents are first, to reconcile, and second, to restore to favor. This word is used three times in the New Testament, all by Paul, conclusively indicating the Divine action used to change a sinner from an enemy relation to God unto being acceptable to Him (Eph. 2:16; Col.1:20). 

Since the manuscript evidence available to us in relation to the form of this word here is divided, we will discuss the significance of both feasible forms presented. The first form means that this reconciliation was completed (aorist tense) by an outside agent (passive voice) upon the subject, "you" (second person plural). The second form means that "he" (God or Jesus Christ, third person singular) actively completed (active voice and aorist tense) the work of reconciliation upon the recipients, "you" as found in verse 21. Whichever way we go, the meaning is the same; it took a sovereign act of Deity to reconcile dead-in-sin enemies to God (cf. Eph. 2:4-5). 

Paul says that they were reconciled "in the body of his flesh through death." The phrase translated "in the body" is in the locative case indicating the place where this reconciliation occurred, i.e., in the physical body of Jesus Christ (Matt. 27:58-59; Heb.10:10). The word for "flesh" is in the genitive case and as such means that Jesus' body belongs to flesh as He was identified with the human race by actually taking upon Himself a flesh and blood body (Rom. 1:3; 1 Tim. 3:16; Heb. 2:14). Also, the pronoun is in the genitive case indicating that the body of flesh belongs to Him, hence, we have translated it "the body of his flesh." As the Apostle Paul painstakingly uses this language, his intent is unmistakable; Jesus Christ, although God, became a man, taking on a human flesh and blood body that was capable of bearing the sin of the world (Phil. 2:6-7; 1 Peter 2:24). 

The purpose for this body was that "through death" or through the agency of physical death He might lay the basis for the reconciliation of men with God. The fact that Jesus Christ became a man, suffered a physical death bearing our sins, and was raised from the dead as a life-giving basis upon which God reconciles men to Himself is central to the Pauline Epistles, God's purpose in this Church age (Rom. 5:10; 2 Cor. 5:16-21; Heb. 2:9, 14). 

Furthermore, the phrase the body of flesh is used one other time by Paul in Colossians2:11, where he speaks of the circumcision-separation of "the body of flesh" from believers, i.e., the putting off of the body of sin, the old man (Rom. 6:6). Therefore, by using the same phrase in relation to our Lord, Paul may be referring to His flesh and blood body permeated with our sin, which He assumed in His body on the cross. It is certainly necessary to hold to the fact that when Jesus Christ died, His body was laden down with the sin of the world so He could be the sin substitute for all who are identified with Him and the basis of their reconciliation with God (Rom. 6:3-6; Col. 2:11-13). 

The Greek word translated "to present" comes from the two words and literally meaning to stand beside and could also be rendered to stand or place by in similar contexts (2 Cor.11 :2; 2 Tim. 2:15). The fact that it is an infinitive indicates the reason for the substitutionary death of Jesus Christ was to present holy, blameless, and irreproachable men before God, in the sight of God, hence, "in his presence" Eph. 1:4; Jude 24). 

The words translated "you," "holy," "blameless," and "irreproachable" at the end of this verse are all accusative, plural nouns, and in this relation are descriptive of one another. The first word describing the character of how these Colossian believers were presented to God is "holy," sanctified, and ones set apart (as a noun) for God's service (Rom. 12:1; 1 Cor. 7:34). Second, they were presented "blameless," without blame, and ones void of fault (as a noun) before God (Eph. 5: 27; Phil. 2:15). Third, they were stood in the presence of God "irreproachable," unindictable, and ones unable to be called into question (as a noun; 1 Cor. 1:8; Titus 1:6-7). Believers are acceptable to God and worthy to stand in His presence because they have been considered holy, blameless, and irreproachable since they were identified with the one who truly bears these qualities, Jesus Christ (l Cor. 1:30; 1 Peter 1:19).

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 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

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ONE MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MAN! BY Ike T. Sidebottom

The Holy Spirit of God spoke through the patriarch Job, saying, "How should man be just with God?" If I wash myself with snow water, and make my hands never so clean: yet shalt Thou plunge me in the ditch, and mine own clothes shall abhor me. For He is not a man, as I am, that I should answer Him, and we should come together in judgment. Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that should lay His hand on us both." (Job 9: 1,30-33)

It is evident that Job was clearly shown the deep and unabridged chasm between himself, the sinner, and God, the righteous One. Consequently, His cry for a "daysman" to stand betwixt him and God. Laying one hand upon God and the other hand upon Job, thereby bridging the chasm between them.

The "daysman," or mediator, has been supplied in the person of "the man Christ Jesus." The appointed preacher, and apostle and teacher of the Gentiles, was moved upon to reveal the fact that it is the desire of "God our Saviour" that all men be "saved," and "come unto the knowledge of the truth." Coupled with this unprecedented longing in the heart of God our Saviour, He has also set forth the essential facts that He is the "one God," Who became the "one mediator" between God and men, "the man Christ Jesus" ( I Timothy 2:1-7).

With God's Word as our authority, we may be absolutely positive in our teaching that "the man Christ Jesus" is not a mere man. He is man, but He is also God. He is the one, and only, God-man. Therefore He is the one and only mediator between God and men. These things are attested in "all Scripture."

A mere man could never be rightly spoken of as being "the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Yet, we find that God has spoken through the Psalmist David, saying, "0 my God ... Thy years are throughout all generations. 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" (Psalms 102:24-27). It is also written in Malachi 3:6, "I am the Lord, I change not."

The writer to the Hebrews certified these same truths, saying, "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever." Thus we see that both the Old Testament and New Testament writers have joined together in testimony that the man Christ Jesus is from everlasting to everlasting and that He is unchangeable. Therefore the "one Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" is none other than perfect God and perfect man. Therefore He is the go-between, and is capable of putting one hand in the hand of the fallen sinner and the other hand in the hand of the righteous God. This makes it possible for the believing sinner to be linked up with God through the tie which can never be broken.

Let us rejoice and give thanks for our fellowship with God through Jesus Christ His Son, our Saviour.

Also Read - CLICK TO OPEN

God and Man! Ike T. Sidebottom

 Our Blessings in Christ - By Ike T. Sidebottom

 Watrr Baptism for Whom? By Ike T. Sidebottom
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

Read the KJV BIBLE in large print (Click Here)

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Jesus is JEHOVAH The One True GOD (Click Here)

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THE GRACE OF GOD - By - Jack Truman

In this edition of the Grace Messenger, we would like to look at the word "grace". Let's begin by asking ourselves a few questions concerning grace.

1. What does the word grace mean?
2. What does the word grace not mean?
3. Who receives this grace?
4. By what means is it received?

Let's begin with the nation Israel, God's covenant people. They found grace (or favor) with God for it was through them that God intended to establish His Kingdom here on the earth. God had given them favored-nation status, and they were to be instrumental and the channel of blessing in bringing all other nations back to Himself. Luke writes of these things in Acts 3:25-26, "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, 'And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities."

So God had given Israel favored-nation status, however His favor, His grace was something they were instructed and required to seek. Our Lord Jesus Christ exhorted them not to be like the other nations, but rather to: "seek, ye first the Kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) He told them, "Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you." (Matthew 7: 7)

If Israel would seek God and perform, they would find grace (or favor). "And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: and all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God." (Deuteronomy 28:1-2)

So, in order to find grace (or favor) with God, it needed to be sought and performed. And by doing so, they demonstrated their faith concerning the things God had commanded them. The end result was finding favor (or grace) with God. But we know that they as a nation failed to measure up to the requirements of God. Time and time again they failed to seek His favor and perform what was required. Rather than seek Him they crucified Him, and rather than repent for it afterward they resisted, blasphemed and persecuted those who did. Paul wrote concerning Israel in Romans 10:2-3, " For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God righteouness and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God."

So as a result of their mind set, and going about to establish their own righteousness and not submitting to the righteousness of God, He has concluded them in unbelief and has temporarily set that program aside. "Well, because of unbelief they were broken off', "For God hath concluded them all in unbelief', "blindness in part is happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in." (Romans 11:20, 33, 25)

Israel has been TEMPORARILY set aside. This is evident by the word "until" in Romans 11:25. There are those who teach that God has permanently stopped dealing with the nation Israel, but there couldn't be anything further from the truth. Paul writes in Romans 11:1-2, "I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin. God has not cast away his people which he foreknew.

In the future God will restore favored nation status to Israel, and establish a new covenant with them. "For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11:27) "Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, because they continued not in my covenant and I regarded them not, saith the Lord. For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people. And they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away." (Hebrews 8:8-13)

This future concerning Israel has not yet come, so this leaves a question: What has God done meantime? (between setting them aside and the future covenant He will establish with them?) God has ushered in a new program. This He had in mind from eternity past but kept it secret since the world began until He revealed it through Paul the apostle. What was this program called? It has several titles:

1. It was called the MYSTERY. "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" (Romans 16:25)

2. It was called the GOSPEL OF THE UNCIRCUMCISION. "But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter" (Gal. 2:7)

3. It was called the DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD. "If ye 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" (Ephesians 3:2,3)

This is where we are today. So let us ask ourselves: "What is God's message for us today? What was kept secret until Jesus revealed it to Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles)? To answer this completely we would have to say it is that entire body of truth contained in Paul's writings and his messages as recorded by Luke in the Book of Acts. But to put it into a nutshell as they say, Paul called it "Christ and Him crucified" (I Corinthians 2:2) or in words we might use "Jesus Christ and what He accomplished for us in the death of the cross and in His resurrection". Read it for yourself as Paul writes "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures." (I Corinthians 15:1-4) And in another nutshell" summary he writes, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son. Much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Romans 5: 6-10)

Let us ask ourselves: Where and when did this age and dispensation begin and how does it work? It began with the conversion of Saul (or Paul). Where did this take place? When he was on his way to Damascus. (See Acts 9:1-16) Here was a man that was not seeking the favor (or grace) of God, but rather was out to persecute those who were. But while on his way, our Lord Jesus Christ stopped him, and in unprecedented grace showed him mercy and saved him. This is why to the Ephesians Paul wrote: "For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2: 8-9)

The word grace in verse eight means: DIVINE INFLUENCE UPON THE HEART. This is what God is doing today during this age of grace, seeking us out one by one, seeking to influence our hearts with good news of what He has accomplished in the cross (and if we believe this message) resulting in salvation. "In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise " (Ephesians 1:13) This is how God's grace works today.

Now let's ask ourselves: "What does this word grace Not mean in this present age and dispensation?" Paul wrote, "even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work." (Romans 11:5-6) He writes, "Not of works, lest any man should boast" (Ephesians 2:9). Again, "Now 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 justified the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. " (Romans 4:4-5) Then to the Galatians, Paul explains even further saying "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Galatians 2:16)

Paul is trying to tell us that if we think we can get to heaven by our own works, or by our own self-righteousness, we will come short of the glory of God. This he explains in Romans Chapter three, "there is none righteous, no, not one" "They have all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not ONE." "For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:10, 12,23)

Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, many times reminds us that his writings are the words of Christ Himself. (See I Timothy 6: 2-5, I Corinthians 14:38, II Timothy 3:16) Here in Romans Chapter three, how could he make it clearer that it is not by our righteousness, but by His righteousness, His grace, His work in the cross that we are saved? He says, "Being Justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (verse 24).

I would ask anyone who is reading this article; Who's righteousness are you trusting in? I encourage you to study the scripture to see if what is written here is true and especially Ephesians 2: 8, 9 where Paul proclaims, "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. "

This now brings up the last question. Who receives this grace and by what means is it received? God is showing unprecedented grace to everyone today. He makes the same offer to all to be reconciled to Him, showing no difference, with the same result upon believing. "For there is no difference between- Jew and the- Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Romans 10:12-13) There will not be one of us that will be able to stand before God and say "I never received God's grace". For He wants" all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." (I Timothy 2: 4) This is why Paul begged his readers "that ye receive not the grace of God in vain" (II Corinthians 6:1), asking them to believe while this favor (or grace) is still being offered.

So in conclusion, accept the grace of God and as a result of it, believe that what Christ has done on the cross of Calvary was for you, and have the assurance of eternal life.

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

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Jesus is JEHOVAH The One True GOD (Click Here)

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ISRAEL'S SHEPARD KING - By- J. C.O'Hair

As we study the outline of the Gospel of Luke, let us think of the Twenty-third Psalm, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” Also read Jeremiah 50:6 concerning Israel, the lost sheep of Jehovah and the Prophecy in Ezekiel in 34:11 and 12, how the Shepherd will come and seek them and when they are found God will put a Shepherd over them. (Ezekiel 37:24).

Note Isaiah 40:10 and 11: “Behold, the Lord God will come with strong hand, and His arm shall rule for Him: behold, His reward is with Him, and His work before Him. He shall feed His flock like a shepherd: He shall gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, and shall gently feed those that are with young.”

Christ is the Good Shepherd, Who gave His life for the sheep. (John 10:11). He is the Great Shepherd and the Chief Shepherd, (Hebrews 13:20 and 21 - I Peter 5:4).

We know that David was the hero of those shepherds who kept their flock. David was Israel’s shepherd-king and surely a type of the Lord Jesus Christ. Both David and Christ were born in Bethlehem “the city of David.” This was announced to the shepherds. (Luke 2:11 to 16).

Only in Luke do we have the announcement of Luke 1:27 to 33 that Christ is to be born in the city of David, in the house of David, as the Seed of David, to take the throne of David.

The Shepherd seeks His sheep, He came to seek and to save the lost sheep of Israel, even the publicans. (Luke 19:9 and 10). The shepherd drives off the destroyers of the sheep. Christ was the Horn of salvation raised up in the house of David to deliver Israel from Gentile subjugation. (Luke 1:68 to 71).

With such a Shepherd the sheep were thus instructed: “he that hath two coats, let him impart to him that has none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise.” Luke 3:11.” Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.” (Luke 9:3). “Carry neither purse nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.” (Luke 10:4)

“. . . take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, neither for the body, what ye shall put on.” (Luke 12:22). “And seek not what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.” (Luke 12:29).

Finally the Shepherd-King said to His sheep, “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupted.” (Luke 12:32 and 33).

With such a program they had to say, “The Lord is My Shepherd.”

Then only in Luke 15:1 to 6 do we find in detail one of the greatest stories of all ages: “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing.” Luke 15:4 and 5. Thus we can see how the Lord Jesus Christ in the Gospel of Luke is Israel’s Shepherd-King.

In Luke we do not find the Gentile woman of Mark 7:27 and Matthew 15:21 to 25, coming to the Shepherd.

The only Gentile in Luke is the Roman official, who built a synagogue for Israel and who would not dare to come to Israel’s King except through one of the Shepherd’s sheep. (Luke 7:1 to 12).

After this study surely we will not call Luke a Gentile, and follow those who call Luke’s Gospel, “the Gentile Gospel.” Christ was sent in Luke, to the sons and daughters of Abraham. (Luke 13:16 - Luke 19:9 and 10).

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

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Posted By Cecil  and Connie Spivey

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DEAD WORKS - BY C. R. Stam

Twice in Paul's epistles he refers to "dead works". In Hebrews 6:1 he writes about "repentance from dead works", while in Hebrews 9:14 he declares that the blood of Christ avails to "purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God".

Mark well, these references are not to wicked works but to dead works. These "dead works" are the so-called "good works" (whether moral or ceremonial) which men did — and still do — to make themselves acceptable to God. They are "dead" because they are not the product of regeneration or spiritual life, but the mere attempt on the part of unregenerate sinners to justify themselves before God.

Paul himself, once zealously religious, but wholly unsaved, had to repudiate his "dead works" and count them "loss" to find salvation in Christ, through whom alone he could produce good works which God could accept. (See Philippians 3:4-9).

This is why he later declared by divine inspiration: "For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works..." (Eph.2:8-10).

"Dead works" are not only unacceptable to God, but an evil substitute for the faith He desires, "for without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb.11:6). But "he that believeth on the Son of God hath life" and this life is bound to bear fruit — the good works with which God is truly pleased.

The difference between the "good works" of the unregenerate man and the "good works" of a true believer, then, is that the former are "dead works" while the latter are the precious fruit of life possessed.

No man can please God while he denies the truth of His Word or rejects His Son, so graciously given to die on the cross as our Saviour. To try to win His favor by "good works" while rejecting Christ is like sending a gift to a man whose beloved son you spurn and despise.

"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:35,36). 

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 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

Read the KJV BIBLE in large print (Click Here)

(A 10 Minute Video)

Jesus is JEHOVAH The One True GOD (Click Here)

Posted By Cecil  and Connie Spivey

    Share this Bible Message with your  friends