What is a Church? - by C. R. Stam

It is strange but true that most people — even the great majority of religious people — do not know what a church is. Ask the average man what a church is, and he’s apt to reply: “Well, anybody knows that! A church is a building where people go to worship God.” But this is not correct. The word translated church, in our Bibles, simply means assembly. A church is not a building, but the assembly that meets in the building. Technically, a church is not even a religious gathering, for the same word is used in Acts 19:32 of a riotous mob which had assembled at Ephesus, and this verse says that this assembly was confused and that “the greater part knew not wherefore they were come together.” Perhaps this could apply to many a church today, but the point is that a church is not a building but an assembly of people.

The church of which the Bible has most to say is “the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood” (Acts 20:28), and St. Paul calls the church of this present dispensation, “the Body of Christ,” or “the Church which is His Body” (I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:22,23).

Men cannot join this Church by water baptism or any other religious rite, but only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. With regard to believers in Christ St. Paul declares: “By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body” (I Cor. 12:13). And in Rom. 12:5 the Apostle says that “ye, being many, are one body in Christ.”

Many sincere people have had their names on local church rolls for many years before learning this great truth — that the true Church of God is not a building, but the assembly of those who trust in Christ as their Savior. Doubtless, people in and out of many of the religious organizations we call churches belong to this one great Bible Church, while others, with all their religious profession, do not. The question is: Have we sincerely trusted in Christ as the Savior who died for our sins?

 

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DEITY IN THE PERFECTY HUMANITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST By Russell S. Miller

Those who should know better are propagating a false doctrine that places doubt on the Deity of Christ. They have now come to the erroneous conclusion that our only Saviour, Jesus Christ, could have sinned! Mind you, He didn't of course, but they say He could have! This doctrine is not only erroneous, it is also heresy, and precious souls are being led astray.

Furthermore those who propagate such teachings plainly reveal that they do not believe in the Deity of Jesus Christ; nor do they know, or understand, the purpose of God in entering the stream of humanity through the Virgin Birth.

If Christ could have sinned then He was no different than the first Adam, and His sacrifice was no better than the Mosaic system, and we are yet in our sins! It is WE rather who inherited Adam's sin, and Adam's sinful nature, and not the Lord Jesus. He was no sinner. Adam's sinful nature was NOT transferred to Him. There was none of Adam's sinful blood coursing through His veins. Thus the purpose in the Virgin Birth of Christ is fulfilled. He lived the perfect sinless life before the world. Consequently, at Calvary, He could take our sin-that Adamic nature-upon Himself, and bear our sin on the cross. As Paul states in II Corinthians 5:21, Christ was "made sin for us" at Calvary, Christ, who "knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM." But not only did the Lord Jesus take our sin upon Himself, Paul further declares that "CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS." He took our SINS upon Himself also, when He died upon that cross. Thus in Paul's epistle to the Ephesians we read these words concerning the Lord Jesus:

"In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph.1:7).

Plus, His resurrection from the dead is a clear declaration that there was not one fraction of a possibility that our Lord Jesus Christ could have sinned.

In Hebrews 7:26 we read these words concerning the Lord Jesus Christ: "For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and MADE HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS" (Heb.7:26).

It is therefore not a question of whether or not Christ could have sinned-what a horrible thought! It is rather a fact that Jesus Christ WOULD NOT sin. Lucifer rebelled, and sinned wickedly in departing from God to do evil and became the Devil. Adam and Eve sinned, and plunged the whole human race into sin (Rom.5:12). You and I sin! But Jesus Christ WOULD NOT sin. He "set His face like a flint" to bear our sins on Calvary's cross (Isa. 50:7; Luke 9:51; Heb.10:5-7).

In Hebrews 7:26 we read these words concerning the Lord Jesus Christ: "For such an High Priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and MADE HIGHER THAN THE HEAVENS" (Heb.7:26).

It is therefore not a question of whether or not Christ could have sinned-what a horrible thought! It is rather a fact that Jesus Christ WOULD NOT sin. Lucifer rebelled, and sinned wickedly in departing from God to do evil and became the Devil. Adam and Eve sinned, and plunged the whole human race into sin (Rom.5:12). You and I sin! But Jesus Christ WOULD NOT sin. He "set His face like a flint" to bear our sins on Calvary's cross (Isa. 50:7; Luke 9:51; Heb.10:5-7).

In Isaiah 7:3 the prophet was told to go to Ahaz and to take his son with him, and this is a clear declaration that Isaiah's wife was not "the virgin" spoken of in Isaiah 7:14, for his son was already born and named "Shearjashub" (Isa.7:3), NOT Immanuel! And in Matthew 1:23 we have the quotation of Isaiah 7:14, "Behold a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which being interpreted is GOD with us" (Matt.1:23), speaking of the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus the angelic announcement in Luke 2:13,14:

"And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."

It is concerning Immanuel's birth, the birth of Jesus Christ, that the Apostle Paul writes these words in Hebrews 1:6:

"And again, when He bringeth in the First begotten into the world, He saith, And let all the angels of God worship Him" (Heb.1:6).

It is because GOD "CANNOT LIE" (Tit.1:2) that the Apostle pens these words, and in the same chapter, God the Father again speaks, showing that Christ IS God!

"But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, 0 God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom" (Heb.l:8).

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul ascribes the entire work of creation to the Son of God. "And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands" (Heb.1:10).

In the first chapter of John's Gospel, and the first verse, are these words:

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. "The same was in the beginning with God" (John 1:1,2) .

"And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).

In the discourse, at the feast of tabernacles in John, Chapter 7, the Jews "marvelled" that the Lord taught with such grace and truth.

"For He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matt.-7:29). The Lord spoke very boldly to these Pharisees that His "doctrine" was to do the will of God (John 7:16,17). And as they went about accusing Him of having "a devil" (7:20; 8:48,52; 10:20), notice His response to their wickedness in John8:44:

"Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it" (John 8:44). 15:22-24), would not accept Who He was.

The Lord was compelled to answer their bitter unbelief with such strong language because they, knowingly (John

Thus these words are written of God: "Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: FOR GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED WITH EVIL, NEITHER tempteth He any man" (Jas.1:13).

In the Apostle Paul's struggles to do the will of God he utters these words in Romans 8:3 concerning the perfect humanity of Jesus Christ, and His Deity:

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh."

The Lord Jesus was in "the likeness of sinful flesh" but He did not sin! There was no old Adamic nature in Him! It was on account of our sins, your sin and mine, it was "for sin" that God "condemned SIN in the flesh," and turned His back on His Son (Matt. 27:46) . The Lord Jesus wasn't just "found in appearance as a man," He was wholly man, and at the same time wholly
God:

"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8).

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that CHRIST JESUS CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS; of whom I am chief" (I Tim.1:15).

"By the which Will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

"But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins FOR EVER, sat down on the right hand of God" (Heb.10:10,12).

And not only would Jesus Christ not sin, He CANNOT sin, for He is GOD! See I John 3:9. Thus the perfect Man, the God Man Christ Jesus, offers a propitiatory sacrifice that satisfies God's holy Law forever.

The work of redemption was finished in Christ's sacrifice for sin, God was satisfied; salvation from sin was fully purchased, because Jesus Christ is the spotless, sinless, Lamb of God.

Now here is something to consider in light of the fact that "we must all appear before the Judgment Seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in His Body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad" (II Cor.5:10).

Will this Athenian doctrine (Acts 17:19,21) that is being espoused bring others closer to the Lord? Or, are they being "carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness whereby they lie in wait to deceive" (Eph.4:14)?

Furthermore, in his Romans epistle the Apostle Paul states:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rom.16:17,18).

Don't join their camp, nor invite such teachers into your church no matter how good of a speaker, but "reject" their teachings, and "avoid" them. "For ... they shall turn away their [your] ears from the truth, and [you] shall be turned unto fables" (II Tim. 4:3,4).

"A man that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition, reject; "Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself" (Tit. 3:10,1l) .

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Our Grace Commission By Gregg Bing

One of the reasons many assume that Mark 16 is our "Great Commission" today is because they believe these were Jesus' last words. While these may have been some of the last words Jesus spoke while here on earth, they were not the last words He ever spoke to men. Jesus' ministry was not limited to the time He spent here on earth.

With Israel's rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit through the twelve apostles during the Acts period, the Lord Jesus spoke again, this time from heaven, this time to Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:1-16 Saul, who became known as Paul, was called to be "an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God" (Eph. 1:1 but his commission was distinct from that of the Twelve. Paul was chosen to be the apostle to the Gentiles (Rom. 11:13 and entrusted with a different gospel, "the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24 Though Paul often referred to it as "my gospel" (2 Tim. 2:8 it consisted of "the words of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Tim. 6:3 for he received it by direct revelation from Him (Gal. 1:12

Christ also revealed to Paul a new plan and purpose of God for this present age, the dispensation of the grace of God (Eph. 3:2 This truth was a mystery kept secret from men of other ages until made known to Paul. Today, God is no longer dealing with a nation (Israel) but with individuals without distinction as to nationality, race, religion, or social status. All men who put their trust in Jesus Christ as Savior are added to a new body of believers, the Church, the Body of Christ. As members of the Church, we have a new commission from God, distinct from the commission Jesus gave to the Twelve.

Our commission as believers in the dispensation of grace is found in the writings of the apostle Paul whom God established as the steward of this present age. As we examine the letters he wrote under inspiration of the Holy Spirit, we find that our commission consists of two different ministries, ministries that are brought into focus by the fact that God, according to 1 Timothy 2:4 desires two things for all men: (1) that they be saved and (2) that they come to the knowledge of the truth. Our commission is to reach out to "all men" in the area of these two needs. The first part of our commission is to

Preach the Gospel

Grace believers (those who recognize the distinct ministry of Paul for this present age) are often accused of focusing too much on doctrine (teaching) and not enough on evangelism (preaching the gospel). Some of these detractors seem to think that "preaching Jesus Christ" should be our only concern. What they don't seem to realize is that doctrine and evangelism cannot be separated. Doctrine is, in fact, vital, especially in the area of evangelism. It answers critical questions such as: "What are we to preach about Jesus Christ?" and "What is required for a person to be saved?"

The twelve apostles preached Jesus Christ, but in accordance with the gospel of the kingdom. He was proclaimed as the Son of God, but the emphasis was on the fact that He was Israel's Messiah (Christ), the One anointed by God to be their King. If you carefully examine Peter's preaching in Acts, chapters 2 and 3, you find that he never mentions that "Christ died for our sins." When the Jews asked Peter what they must do, he responded:

"Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." (Acts 2:38

In Acts 3:19-21 Peter further proclaimed the good news that if Israel, as a nation, would repent, then "times of refreshing" would come from "the presence of the Lord," and He would "send Jesus Christ" back to earth to establish His kingdom and bring about the "restoration of all things" spoken by God's holy prophets.

This is not the gospel we are to preach today! This is not the message by which a person can be saved today. During this present age of grace, we are to preach Jesus Christ, but in accordance with the revelation of the mystery, the truth entrusted to us through the Apostle Paul (Rom. 16:25

What are we to preach or proclaim about Jesus Christ? What do people need to hear and believe about Him in order to be saved? Paul describes our gospel commission in 2 Corinthians 5, verses 14-21, a passage which focuses on reconciliation. The basic meaning of "reconciliation" is the idea of change or exchange. The word was used to describe the business of money changers who exchanged coins for others of equivalent value. Reconciliation also speaks of the adjustment of a difference. Reconciliation is the means by which sinful men are brought into a relationship with a holy God. For this to occur, a change has to take place. God does not need to change, but we do. In order to be reconciled to God, we must be made new creations in Christ (vs. 17). In this passage, Paul addresses three aspects of reconciliation.

The Work of Reconciliation

The work of reconciliation is accomplished by God Himself, "who reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ." Paul declares that "God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them." The essence of this work is seen in verse 21:

"For He (God) made Him (Christ) who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."

Here we find what some call "the great exchange." Christ took our sins upon Himself, paying the penalty for us, so that we might have His righteousness imparted to us. This makes it possible for us to have peace with God (Rom. 5:1

What does it mean that Christ reconciled "the world" to Himself? It does not imply universal reconciliation-that everyone will eventually be saved. It simply means that Christ has paid the penalty for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2 While everyone's sins have been judged at Calvary, not everyone will be saved. This is evident when Paul speaks of the need to implore people "to be reconciled to God." The reconciliation Christ accomplished for us on the cross is a gift of God's grace, a gift that each person must receive (Rom. 5:11 by faith (Eph. 2:8-9 As servants of the Lord, we are commissioned to have a part in the process of reconciliation, for God has given us:

The Ministry of Reconciliation

"Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God." (2 Cor. 5:20

Our commission is to be ambassadors for Christ, His representatives here on this earth. As the Body of Christ, we are the instruments God uses to reach out to all men with the gospel of Jesus Christ. God uses us to plead with lost sinners and implore them, on Christ's behalf, to be reconciled to God by faith.

The love of Christ compels us to fulfill this commission (vs. 14)-love for the Lord who has given us such a wonderful salvation and love for those outside of Christ, knowing that God loves them (1 John 4:7-11

The key to fulfilling this ministry is the message God has entrusted to us:

  The Word Of Reconciliation

We are to implore people to receive, by faith, the reconciliation Christ provided. For this to happen, they must hear the Word of God, since "faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17 But, what part of the Word should we preach? What is the gospel we are to proclaim today? We are to preach the gospel entrusted to Paul, God's steward for this present dispensation. Paul declares what this gospel is quite clearly in 1 Corinthians 15, verses 3 and 4,

"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: 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."

This gospel that Paul preached is the same gospel we are to proclaim today-that Christ died as a substitute for our sins, was buried, and rose again that we might have eternal life. This is the gospel that people must believe to be saved from their sins. It is the only gospel by which a person can stand before God "holy, blameless, and above reproach" (Col. 1:22

What a great commission has been entrusted to us today! May we be faithful to carry out this charge that precious souls may be brought to Christ.

Next Issue: We will look at the second part of our commission which relates to God's desire that all men "come to the knowledge of the truth."

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Our Blessings in Christ - By Ike T. Sidebottom

In Ephesians 1, verses 3 to 14, we get a glimpse of the eternal purpose and plan of God which is now being worked out through the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. At the time Paul penned these verses he was suffering untold cruelties of earth, but he was enjoying unlimited visions of heaven. Though he was lodged in a Roman prison, he launches forth into the message of this epistle with the triumphant word "blessed" (verse 3). The clause, "blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" in verse 3, reminds us of this testimony in 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ."

Paul seems to never forget the blessing and praise that belongs to our God and Father and to our Lord and Savior. Perhaps our prayers would be more far-reaching if they were filled with more praise and gratitude to God for what He has already done, and less begging for things we think He ought to do.

We call your attention to four things about the blessings of verse 3. He "hath blessed us with all ... blessings." They are "spiritual blessings." They are blessings which belong to the "heavenly places." And they are blessings which are secured "in Christ."

Seven of these blessings are dealt with in detail in these verses. They are as follows: We were "chosen" in Christ "before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love" (verse 4).

God "predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself , according to the good pleasure of His will" (verse 5).

"He hath made us accepted in the beloved" (verse 6). That is, He hath made us acceptable to Himself by robing us in the righteousness of His own Son.

He has redeemed us through the blood of His Son by which we have "forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (verse 7).

He has instructed us "having made known unto us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He hath purposed in Himself" (verse 9).

"He has sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise" until the day of the redemption of our bodies when the church is caught into glory (verse 13).

Finally, He has enriched us with a specified "inheritance" which will be given unto us when we, "the body, the church" meet our Lord and Head in glory.

As members of the "church, which is the body of Christ," we are God's children, or sons (verse 5). This is true because we are in His Son. Our redemption and the forgiveness of our sins is "according to the riches of His grace" and the riches of His grace are "unsearchable" (Ephesians 3:8). Therefore the measure of forgiveness which we enjoy in Christ is the measure of the "unsearchable riches of Christ." In Christ, we stand "holy and without blame" before God. God cannot see us as we were in Adam, fallen and condemned; but He sees us as we are in Christ, risen and accounted righteous. This reminds us of Colossians 1:21-22:

"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreprovable in His sight:"

It is true that "we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away" (Isaiah 64:6). Yet, it is also true that we who are saved have been made clean through the blood of Christ and we are now robed in His infinite righteousness. Therefore, we are a new creation and we no longer belong to the fallen race of Adam. Our citizenship is in heaven and our standing before the Heavenly Father is just as perfect as that of His dear Son, because we stand in Him and in His righteousness.

This article is taken from the book, The Fellowship of the Mystery, a verse by verse study of the book of Ephesians, by Pastor Ike T. Sidebottom.


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PEACE ON EARTH - by Gregg Bing

During the Christmas holidays, we often hear the expressions "peace on earth" and "good will toward men." Many think of this holiday season as a time of peace, but there is very little peace on earth. Politically, we see nations, races, even religions at war with one another. Economically, we see turmoil and uncertainty day after day. Even in our personal lives, many have such hectic schedules that peace and rest is only a dream for many. This is especially true during the holidays with family gatherings, school and office parties, and the madness of Christmas shopping at the malls.

When the Lord Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, some 2000 years ago, the angels announced His birth to the shepherds. A multitude of the heavenly host praised God saying, "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Luke 2: 14).

Jesus' birth was the coming of Israel's long awaited Messiah; the One whom God anointed to be Israel's King; the One whom Isaiah called the "Prince of peace" (Isa. 9:6); the One whose government and peace would be unending (Isa. 9:7).

Peace on earth was certainly what God's chosen people, Israel, longed for. At the time of Jesus' birth, they had been under Gentile dominion for over 600 years, beginning with the Babylonians, who destroyed the city of Jerusalem and their temple, and continuing to that present day with the cruel Romans (Luke 2:1). Israel longed to be free from Roman taxes, Roman governors, Roman soldiers, and Roman laws-they longed for peace.

When the angels announced to the shepherds the birth of Israel's Savior and Deliverer, it must have seemed that peace was about to be a reality in their lives. But the birth of Jesus did not bring peace on earth. We read in John 1:11 that, "He came unto His own, but His own did not receive Him." How could this have happened? The many Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah's coming were all fulfilled in the Lord Jesus (Micah 5:2, Isa. 7:14, etc.), and the proofs of His identity and His authority as their King were clearly demonstrated through His teaching (Matt. 5-7) and His miracles (Matt. 8-9), yet the Jewish leaders "plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him" (Matt. 12:14).

Israel's own expectations had blinded their minds to what God's Word taught concerning. the Messiah (Christ). The problem began with Israel's leaders. They had corrupted God's Word by their traditions and interpretations of the law (Matt. 15), and when God spoke to them "in His Son" (Heb. 1:1-2), they did not hear Him (John 8:47). These men honored God with their lips, but their hearts were far from Him (Matt. 15:8). They were "blind leaders of the blind" (Matt. 15:14), and so Israel rejected the One who was their peace, the Lord Jesus Christ.

When Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem, He said of them, "If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes" (Luke 19:42). The prophet Isaiah said of Israel, "The way of peace they have not known" (Isa. 59:8).

Jesus' coming into this world did not result in peace, but in division (Luke 12:51-53). The people were divided over Him and who He was. A small remnant, including the apostles, believed He was "the Christ, the Son of the living God" (Matt. 16:16), but the majority of Israel saw Him only as a teacher or prophet. To those who believed, He was precious, but to the rest, the Lord Jesus was offensive and they stumbled at Him, "being disobedient to the Word" (I Pet. 2:7-8). They rejected the "Prince of peace," declaring, "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Luke 19:14), and they delivered Him to the Romans to be crucified.

While those who put Jesus to death were certainly "wicked" or "lawless," we read in Acts 2:23 that all this was according to God's determined purpose. This was exactly why the Son of God came into this world-to give His life on the cross of Calvary for the sins of the world (I Pet. 3:18, I John 2:2). He, "Himself, bore our sins in His own body on the tree" (I Pet. 2:24). Isaiah prophesied of the great sacrifice that He would make for us: "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed" (Isa. 53:5).

It was through His death that Jesus brought peace. Romans 3:23 tells us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Our sin separates us from God, for He is holy, and we are under the penalty of death (Rom. 6:23), but even in this terrible condition, God loved us; so much that He was willing to send His only-begotten Son into the world to become the propitiation for our sins (Rom. 3:24-26, I John 2:2). Jesus' death on the cross satisfied God's holy and righteous requirement. This One, who knew no sin, become "sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him" (II Cor. 5:21). When we simply believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, God justifies us; He declares us to be righteous in His sight. The result of being justified is described in Romans 5:1: ''Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. " We, who once were enemies of God, are reconciled to God through the death of His Son (Rom. 5:10).

Many today are longing for "peace on earth" between men and nations, but, sadly, there is no peace. Wars and threats of wars continue with no peace in sight. The Scriptures teach that there will be peace on earth one day, but only when the Lord Jesus Christ, our risen and ascended Savior, returns to earth to fulfill the promises made to the nation of Israel. The Prince of peace will establish His kingdom on this earth and-His people, Israel, will rule and reign with Him. This is a peace that man can never hope to achieve through his own efforts.

Others are longing for peace in their own hearts and lives. This is a peace that is possible, but, once again, not by our own efforts. This peace only comes when we have "peace with God" through the Lord Jesus Christ. When we trust in Christ as our Savior, not only do we have "peace with God," we are also filled with "joy and peace in believing" "by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Rom. 15:13, Gal. 5:22). This wonderful "peace of God," which is beyond our understanding, then keeps or guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Phil. 4:7).

If you are longing for true peace in your own heart and life, you can have it this very day, even this very moment, by simply believing in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross of Calvary; that He died for your sins and rose again the third day (Acts 16:31, I Cor. 15:3-4). It's not by any works of righteousness on your part (Tit. 3:5), but all by God's grace---His gift of eternal life (Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 6:23).

Won't you trust Him today and experience this wonderful peace? You can have "peace with God" and the "peace of God" in your heart and life. This is truly "good will toward men."

Grace Bible Church
http://www.gracebiblechurch-fw.com/

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)

Posted By Cecil and Connie Spivey

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THE WILFUL "SIN" OF HEBREWS "10;26 By Russell S. Miller

It is asserted that the "wilful sin", here, does not apply to this dispensation because, as members of the Body of Christ, God has already given us eternal security in Christ as Paul declares in his epistle to the Romans:

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? ... NAY, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that [nothing] shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord"  (Rom.8:35-39) .

Please note that the Hebrews also have "eternal salvation" (5:9), "eternal redemption" (9:12), and "eternal inheritance" (9:15).

So today, those who trust in His finished work of redemption, whether Hebrews or Gentiles, have "eternal salvation", "eternal redemption", and "eternal inheritance":

"FOR EVEN CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US" (I Cor. 5: 7) .

"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).

Now, on the other hand, those who reject His all-sufficient sacrifice for sins, whether Hebrews or Gentiles, reject "eternal salvation", "eternal redemption", and "eternal inheritance", and do so, "wilfully", as those who rejected Christ on the day of Pentecost, for the simple reason that there is "no more sacrifice for sins". There is no other sacrifice in the sight of God. If you miss Christ, the only thing left is "eternal judgment" (Heb.6:2), because God has made no other provision for sin:

"For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.

But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries" (Heb.10:26,27).

Therefore I implore you, do not tread "under foot the Son of God", nor count "the blood of the covenant" an unholy thing, and do not despise "the Spirit of grace" (Ver.29) .

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

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One New Man - By Pastor Jim Roberts

Peace Church Indiahoma, Oklahoma  

In the first chapter of the book of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul enumerates many of the spiritual blessings that believers possess today. Then he makes the glorious announcement that the Lord Jesus Christ now serves as the Head over all things to the Church which is His Body.

In Ephesians, Chapter 2, Paul reminds Gentile believers of two things that used to be the case in regard to their spiritual state. In addition to being at one time dead in trespasses and sins, Paul says that Gentiles were also aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise.

In response to our lethal state of sin, Paul concludes that God now makes us alive in Christ and has raised us up to sit in the heavenly places in Christ. In response to the fact that we were at one time strangers from Israel's covenants of promise, however, Paul does not conclude that we have now been made partakers in those covenants. On the contrary, Paul concludes that we have now been brought near to God apart from the covenants by the blood of Christ.

Beginning in verse 11, we read:

"Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh-who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands-that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.- (Eph. 2:11-13)

Paul goes on to say that when Christ died on the cross, He abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances. In other words, Christ abolished the rituals of the law which had caused such a wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles.

When God instituted the temple worship at Mt. Sinai, He made it clear that no one could participate without being circumcised. Now Paul says that the shed blood of Christ has abolished that requirement. When Christ died on the cross, He fulfilled all of the righteous requirements of the Law and abolished the rituals of the Law which were but a shadow of things to come.

It is particularly interesting to note, however, that even though the rituals of the Law were abolished at the cross, they were practiced by the Jews all the way through the Acts period. In Acts 15, it is recorded that the Apostle Paul appeared before the Jerusalem church to discuss this very issue.

Paul declared before the elders in Jerusalem that God was saving uncircumcised Gentiles, and he maintained that it was not part of God's plan or purpose for the Gentiles to be circumcised. The Jerusalem elders agreed and sent out a letter stating that the Gentiles would not be required to observe the rituals of the Law. Thus, the wall of separation between the Jews and the Gentiles was reinforced at this meeting.

In Acts, Chapter 21, Paul was accused of teaching Jews that they did not have to observe the rituals of the Law, but since that was not the case, Paul agreed to go into the temple at Jerusalem and participate in some of the rituals of the Law.

Clearly, the rituals of the Law were very much a part of Israel's covenants, and they drove a wedge between the Jews and the Gentiles. This was true during the Old Testament times, and it was also true during the Acts period, as God offered Israel the New Covenant Kingdom.

The rituals of the Law, which had created this wall of separation, were abolished at the cross. However, it was not until Israel's covenants were set aside that Paul was free to reveal this monumental truth. In Ephesians 2 he said:

"For (Christ) Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.- (Eph. 2:14-16

During the Acts period, the Gentiles were grafted into Israel's New Covenant hope (Romans 11:17 As a grafted branch, they maintained their own identity and yielded their own particular fruit. Therefore, the Gentiles could never be one with Israel under the terms of Israel's covenants (Romans 11:27

　

However, when Israel's covenants were temporarily set aside at the end of the Acts period, the Apostle Paul was free to announce the glorious truth concerning the Church which is the Body of Christ. Paul said that Christ had abolished the rituals of the Law at the cross so that He could create in Himself one new man in one body through the cross.

When we consider the overwhelming consequences of this revelation which was given through the Apostle Paul, we have to say with the apostle:

"For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ... to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.- (Eph. 3:14-15 

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
cspivey1953@gmail.com

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