Buying Up The Time - by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Buying Up The Time

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Nineteen hundred years ago Paul wrote to his fellow- believers in the vicinity of Ephesus: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming [Lit., buying up] the time, because the days are evil” (Eph. 5:15,16). Those were indeed evil days, when a wicked tyrant ruled the Roman Empire, when Messiah had been rejected, not only in incarnation, but in resurrection, and Christianity was fighting a life-and-death battle to penetrate the prevailing pagan darkness with the light of God’s grace. Surely Paul never dreamed that the dispensation of grace would continue for more than nineteen hundred years. He expected the Lord to come at any time to recall His ambassadors and bring the day of grace to a close. Hence the urgency of his appeal to be “buying up the time, because the days are evil.”

But if Paul had reason to suspect that the day of grace would soon be brought to a close, we today have greater reason to think so. Now that the light of the gospel has been brought to Europe, America and many other parts of the world, men are turning their backs on it. Only a small minority of even Christendom truly believe the Bible and know the Christ it presents — and how very few know the riches of His grace!

Meanwhile our governments, our educational institutions and our social systems are becoming ever more godless. The result? The newspapers, radio and TV — even a trip downtown to any fair-sized city, will tell us all we need to know. Once again “the days are evil” and the Lord’s coming for His own seems imminent. There is still much talk about lasting peace and prosperity, but no thoughtful person believes that we are headed in that direction. Rather the world appears to be heading straight toward the prophesied “day of wrath.”

What a comfort it is to the believer, then, to know that “God hath not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us…” (I Thes. 5:9,10). “For the Scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on Him shall not be ashamed” and “whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Rom. 10:11,13). 

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Christ Arrest & His Suffering

By Les Feldick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW11OSTlj90&feature=player_embedded

Les Feldick Ministries

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Preview YouTube video [ 182 ] Les Feldick [ Book 16 - Lesson 1 - Part 2 ] His Arrest & His Suffering

The Motives of Law and Grace- by Pastor Ricky Kurth

The Motives of Law and Grace

by Pastor Ricky Kurth

"Desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm" (I Timothy 1:7).

Since "we are not under law, but under grace" (Rom. 6:15), what possible motive could someone have to teach the law? Well, in Paul's day, the men most likely to desire to cling to the law were Jews (Acts 15:1). Speaking of them, Paul told Titus:

"...there are many unruly and vain talkers...of the circumcision...who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake" (Titus 1:10,11).

The thing that these circumcision Jews "ought not" to have been teaching was the law, which they taught for the same reason men teach the law today--because there is money in it. Satan always makes sure that undispensational truth is popular, and teaching what is popular is always a lucrative endeavor!

For instance, in time past, God's message to Israel was that He was going to use Nebuchadnezzar to conquer the nation to chasten her for her iniquities (Jer. 25:9). But false prophets in Israel were assuring God's people it would never happen, that they would continue to enjoy peace (Jer. 23:17). Which of those two messages do you think was more popular, and thus more lucrative?

Of course, when Israel was obedient to God's law, His message to them was a message of peace, but when they rebelled against His law, that message became one dispensation too late. Well, today the law is one dispensation too late, but it is as popular and as profitable as undispensational teaching has always been. People are religious by nature, and the law appeals to their religious "flesh" (Gal. 3:3). And that which appeals to a man's religious flesh is always going to be as popular and as lucrative a business as that which appeals to his carnal flesh (II Cor. 11:20).

When Paul added that those teachers of the law understood "neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm," that was a polite way of saying they didn't know what they were talking about! All because they were one dispensation too late in their teaching. What's that say about all those "desiring to be teachers of the law" in our own day?

Maybe you are thinking, "If the goal of the law is to get us to love God and our neighbor (I Tim. 1:5), and we're not under the law, does that mean God doesn't want us to love God and our neighbor?" Of course He does! But now such loving charity is the goal of a new commandment. You see, when Paul said that "the end of the commandment is charity" (I Tim. 1:5), he wasn't just referring to the goal of the ten commandments.

Remember, Paul opened this epistle by insisting that he was an apostle "by the commandment of God" (I Tim. 1:1), and in the dispensation of grace, the goal of that commandment is charity out of a pure heart. The goal of Paul's God-ordained apostleship is to get people saved and loving God and their neighbor, just as it was under the law. The difference is, in this dispensation, "the love of Christ constraineth us" to serve Him (II Cor. 5:14), not the fear of what will happen to us if we disobey Him, as was the case under the law. That's the motivation of love, not law! That's the motivation of grace.

Christ Arrest and His Suffering

By Les Feldick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW11OSTlj90&feature=player_embedded

Les Feldick Ministries

http://www.lesfeldick.org/

30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.

Kinta, OK 74552

Psted By Cecil and Connie Spivey

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Don't Dote On Personalities- by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Don't Dote On Personalities-

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

When Paul instructs Timothy to charge his followers not to “give heed” to “endless genealogies” (I Tim. 1:4), he refers to the status symbol of the personality of his day.

Recently this writer was informed by a correspondent from an eastern state that it appeared that he might be related to a Revolutionary general named Stam — and, did we wish him to investigate further! We replied that we were far too excited about where we were going to care much about where we had come from!

While there are some in our day who are very proud of their ancestry and have coats of arms displayed in their homes, the average Christian probably, has never had his family tree traced back very far. But in Paul’s day genealogies were very important, even among believers. One’s family relationships meant a great deal. If you were a second cousin to Christ or even a third cousin to Peter you “had it made.” You might be crude, or stupid, or even wicked, but all this was overlooked: you were closely related to Christ Himself or to the Apostle Peter and all were ready to give you audience.

Actually, the personality cult is still with us in the Church today though it manifests itself in different ways. We live in a day of mass communications, when the faces of prominent men and women are seen again and again in newspapers and magazines and even their personalities come through to us over radio and television. Thus it is the prominent “Christian” politician, athlete, actor, beauty queen, or even former gangster who commands the attention today. Those who arrange evangelistic campaigns often seek to engage such personalities to attract crowds. Such prominent figures, though perhaps actually saved, may be very much “of the world,” dishonoring their Christian calling every day, but their presence draws crowds and their shallow testimonies are used to justify their public participation in the work of the Lord.

The new evangelicalism has borrowed many prominent personalities from the world to help swell its audiences, while the old prayer that the witness may be hid behind the cross is to all intents and purposes considered passe.

Christ Arrest & His Suffering

By Les Feldick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW11OSTlj90&feature=player_embedded

Les Feldick Ministries

http://www.lesfeldick.org/

30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.

Kinta, OK 74552

Psted By Cecil and Connie Spivey

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Majorities Often Wrong - by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Majorities Often Wrong -

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

When Paul instructs Timothy to charge his followers not to “give heed” to “endless genealogies” (I Tim. 1:4), he refers to the status symbol of the personality of his day.

Recently this writer was informed by a correspondent from an eastern state that it appeared that he might be related to a Revolutionary general named Stam — and, did we wish him to investigate further! We replied that we were far too excited about where we were going to care much about where we had come from!

While there are some in our day who are very proud of their ancestry and have coats of arms displayed in their homes, the average Christian probably, has never had his family tree traced back very far. But in Paul’s day genealogies were very important, even among believers. One’s family relationships meant a great deal. If you were a second cousin to Christ or even a third cousin to Peter you “had it made.” You might be crude, or stupid, or even wicked, but all this was overlooked: you were closely related to Christ Himself or to the Apostle Peter and all were ready to give you audience.

Actually, the personality cult is still with us in the Church today though it manifests itself in different ways. We live in a day of mass communications, when the faces of prominent men and women are seen again and again in newspapers and magazines and even their personalities come through to us over radio and television. Thus it is the prominent “Christian” politician, athlete, actor, beauty queen, or even former gangster who commands the attention today. Those who arrange evangelistic campaigns often seek to engage such personalities to attract crowds. Such prominent figures, though perhaps actually saved, may be very much “of the world,” dishonoring their Christian calling every day, but their presence draws crowds and their shallow testimonies are used to justify their public participation in the work of the Lord.

The new evangelicalism has borrowed many prominent personalities from the world to help swell its audiences, while the old prayer that the witness may be hid behind the cross is to all intents and purposes considered passe.

Christ Arrest and  His Suffering

By Les Feldick

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SW11OSTlj90&feature=player_embedded

Les Feldick Ministries

http://www.lesfeldick.org/

30706 W. Lona Valley Rd.

Kinta, OK 74552

Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey

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A Killer Who Found Hope - by Pastor Ricky Kurth

A Killer Who Found Hope -

by Pastor Ricky Kurth

The story is told of an innocentman who was accused of killing someone, and was on trial for murder. The man was innocent, but the case against him was strong, and his brother was afraid he'd be convicted. So he decided to bribe a seemingly slow-witted man serving on the jury, offering him $10,000 to convince the other jurors that his brother was guilty of manslaughter instead of murder. Well, it worked, and as he paid the slow-witted man the money, he asked him if it had been difficult to convince the other jurors. "It sure was," he replied, "they all thought he was innocent and wanted to let him go!"

As you may know, the Epistle of Titus was written by a killer named Saul of Tarsus, who not only got saved and quit killing people, he became a servant of God and an apostle of Christ:

"Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness" (Titus 1:1).

The first thing we notice about this reformed killer is that after he got saved he preferred to be called Paul. Now, most killers who change their name do it so they can escape their past and blend in with society. Back in 1988, a man in England was convicted of killing two young girls and incarcerated. When they finally released him in 2017, he changed his name. Of course, his name was Vile Pitchfork, and that's not an easy name to forget--making it hard to blend in with society!

But Saul didn't change his name to try to escape his past. He couldn't have done so if he had tried. You see, he was the most notorious persecutor of the followers of the Lord Jesus Christ of his day! But if he wasn't trying to hide from his past, why did he start going by a new name?

Well, "Saul" was a Jewish name. He was named after Israel's first king. But when he got saved, the Lord told him, "I will send thee far hence unto the Gentiles" (Acts 22:21). So Saul began to go by his Gentile name (Acts 13:9) to reflect how God had sent him to the Gentiles.

You know, it wouldn't hurt all of us to examine ourselves to see if everything in our lives reflects the fact that we have been sent by Christ--not to be His apostles, but to be His ambassadors (II Cor. 5:20). There's probably no reason to change your name now that you're saved, but some changes in your conduct might be in order if an examination of your life shows that you could be a little more godly, a little more kind, or a little more patient with others. Things like that will always reflect well on the One who saved us by His blood, and then sent us forth to represent Him.

Is this something you should pray about? If so, there's no time like the present to talk to God about your desire to represent the Lord in a way that will bring more honor to Him.

King James Bible

The Preserved and Living Word of God

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/

 Jesus is JEHOVAH The One True GOD (Click Here)

 

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These Three are One - By Justin Johnson

These Three are One -

By Justin Johnson

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit and these three are one.” – 1 John 5:7

This verse is the clearest in the Bible of the triune God we serve. Since there are many heresies and confusions about the three in one nature of God, here is a simple Bible believing explanation.

One God

In the statement “these three are one”, we learn that the Biblical necessity of a singular Godhead is preserved when talking about the three. We do not serve three gods.

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:” – Deuteronomy 6:4

“There is one God,…” – 1 Timothy 2:5

“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” – James 2:19

Whereas there is only one God, there are many men that make up mankind. There are not many gods that make up Godkind. We would never say, “there is only one man.” There are billions of us alive today, but about God, there is only one.

There is only one God; there has always been one God, and there will only ever be one God. There is nothing else that compares adequately to him.

Three Persons

In the clear statement of 1 John 5:7, we also learn that the one Lord and God exists in three distinct persons: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit

This is where the controversy and confusion can occur. How can one being, one God, exist in three distinct persons? How can the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit all be one God?

God’s Being

It is important to understand that God cannot be compared to how we describe ourselves. God is unique, not created, and without beginning. Everything we know about being man was created by God, and so being a man is not like being God.

Though you can say to another man, I know what it is like being a human, we cannot say the same about God. God is the only one that knows what it is like to be God. Jesus Christ knows what it is like to be God.

“Who, being in the form of God Philippians i2:6

God’s Persons

God created every man with a single person. One man, one person. Even when we learn that a man is made up of different parts (spirit, soul, body), these are only parts that make up a single person with singular actions, mind, and will.

This is why only one person of the Godhead became a man. About Christ, Paul says:

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9).

God’s incarnation is Jesus Christ. (Joseph Smith is wrong when he describes the Father and Son in separate human bodies.)

This can make it hard to grasp how more than one person can exist in a single being, but that is the case with God. God, being different than man, exists in three persons (1 John 5:7). That is, there are three who can act, three distinct wills, three communicators.

God of All Scripture

This understanding of the one true triune God is the product of collecting all scripture in the Bible about God’s nature. It is not sufficient, to take one verse here, and leave another there. Every verse that describes God must be considered.

There is no need to rightly divide verses into different dispensations since we are describing who God is, and not what he is doing (dispensational study). Dispensational right division is useful to know God’s changing will, and what he is doing. God never changes what he is (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8), and so we can use all scripture.

We can find all three persons described as God in scripture.

In most every epistle Paul writes he addresses “God our Father” (Philippians 1:2). He calls God and Saviour in Titus 2:13. Paul also says that the Lord is the Spirit in 2 Corinthians 3:17.

All three distinct persons are called God, every attribute that describes God can be used to describe the Father, the Son, and the Spirit. All three distinct persons represent a separate record of testimony from heaven. Yet, the three are the one and only God.

Heresies are born about God when all scripture is not considered. Heresies about what God is doing are born when all scripture is not rightly divided. All scripture is profitable for doctrine, but not all doctrine is for our participation.

We serve one God of three persons. There is no clearer statement describing the triune God than what is found in 1 John 5:7.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit : and these three are one.” – 1 John 5:7

King James Bible

The Preserved and Living Word of God

https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/

 Jesus is JEHOVAH The One True GOD (Click Here)

 

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