GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET~OUR ASSURANCES UNDER GRACE

*TERMINAL CONDITION-ETERNAL POSITION *
*By Miles Stanford*
*"Ye have put off the old man with his deeds" (Col. 3:9).

Sometimes our Christian life and love are divided between the two Adams. 
It may be 60-40 in favor of the Last Adam, still it is shared. But the 
Lord Jesus paid it all, gave His all, deserves our all, requires all, 
because He is our ALL. Ours is to be total separation-- -death to the 
old, life in the New.

"Our Father has removed everything to His own satisfaction, and you 
learn in the first eleven verses of Romans 5 the terms He is on with 
you. It means much to the heart of the believer to know that he is 
received on the ground of another Man who perfectly glorified God.

"We are accepted in Him, the Beloved. God has changed His man, and you 
are never happy until you believe that and are able to say, I have, too. 
If you do not see that God has changed His man you will never change 
your man."

"The only way to freedom is to leave Adam for Christ ---- to change your 
man; then it is 'not I, but Christ liveth in me' (Gal. 2:20). There are 
two sides; one, that you are cleared from the old in the eye of God in 
the Cross; the other, that you are now new in Christ risen. 'For the law 
of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of 
sin and death' (Rom. 8:2). The old is held in the place of death as you 
walk in newness of life in the Spirit."

"And have put on the new man, that is renewed in knowledge after the 
image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:10).

*The only way to worry about nothing is to pray about everything.*
*Frank A. Clark*

*FULL PROVISION *
*By Miles Stanford*"Let him ask in faith and have no doubts; for he who has doubts is like 
the surge of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed into spray. A person 
of that sort must not expect to receive anything from the Lord - such a 
one is a man of two minds, undecided in every step he takes" (James 
1:6-8, Wey.).

First, we are to rest in the fact that our Father has made full 
provision for all our needs; positionally, we are complete in the Lord 
Jesus Christ. Then it is that we can trust Him daily for His "exceeding 
abundantly above." "But my God shall supply all your need according to 
His riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Phil. 4:19).

"It is true that all God requires of us we lack; but it is also true 
that all we need He supplies. The believer can give thanks that God has 
supplied all his need as to standing, and He engages to supply all his 
need as to walk. But while we see our Father's requirement, and 
recognize His provision, let us not overlook our responsibility.

"When we fail it is to this our failure may be traced. It is not because 
the provision has been insufficient, or unavailable, or afar off - but 
because the channel has been obstructed, the avenues of the soul have 
been closed, so that the need has remained unsupplied. Our 
responsibility lies in the exercise of faith." - E.H.

"I will not think of the infinities of my need, except to lead me to the 
divine simplicity of the infinity of His supply." - H.C.G.M.

"And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that, if we ask any 
thing according to His will, He heareth us; and if we know that He hear 
us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired 
of Him" (1 John 5:14,15).

The Key To An Effective Pastorate
by Pastor C. R. Stam
The humblest pastor, one who has had little opportunity for formal 
training and may have few natural endowments, may take heart in the 
knowledge that ultimately the key to true effectiveness in the pastorate 
is spirituality. And the greatest pastor, well educated and liberally 
endowed with natural talents, had better remember this, for a large and 
"successful&qu ot; ministry is not necessarily blessed and honored of God, 
while a seemingly insignificant one may be richly blessed.

Remember, the Apostle Paul referred to himself as "unknown, and yet 
well known," as "poor, yet making many rich" (II Cor.6:9,10). He could 
boast no great organizational backing, yet even his co-workers were 
called "these who have turned the world upside down" (Acts 17:6). The 
truly spiritual pastor may know little about worldly matters, but he 
will give much time to the study of the Word of God and will be earnest 
and instant in prayer. He will not be self-satisfied, or high-minded, but 
will walk humbly, begging God every day to make him the pastor he ought 
to be.

The truly spiritual pastor will be "crucified unto the world" and will 
"flee [from] youthful lusts." He will truly love lost souls and the 
congregation God has entrusted to him and will toil unremittingly for 
their good. He will conduct himself as a servant of God and will trust 
God to use him for His glory.

How can such a pastor be a total failure? The key to a truly effective 
pastorate, then, is not intellectual endowment, or scholastic 
attainment,or a well-rounded education, or a thorough training, much 
less wealth or fame or personal magnetism; it is spirituality, with its 
desire to please God and to know and obey His Word, rightly divided.

Our Purpose and Mission
The ministry of "Grace and The Truth" has the purpose of encouraging 
Christians to believe what God says.

We are dedicated to helping Christians to a fuller knowledge of Him, and 
the Grace of God. Until we all come into the Unity, Ephesians 4:13 "Till 
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son 
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the 
fulness of Christ:"

OUR COMMISSION IN THE AGE OF GRACE IS:

2Co 5:16-21 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, 
though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we 
[him] no more. Therefore if any man [be] in Christ, [he is] a new 
creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become 
new. And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by 
Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To 
wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not 
imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word 
of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God 
did beseech [you] by us: we pray [you] in Christ's stead, be ye 
reconciled to God. For he hath made him [to be] sin for us, who knew no 
sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

Freedom' s Light
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler
"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus 
concerning you" (I Thessalonians5: 18).

Some time ago I read the fascinating autobiography of Governor William 
Bradford, who courageously led the Pilgrims to the New World in 1620. 
The Governor documents how their quest for "religious freedom" brought 
them face to face with many perils. He describes how, en route to what 
we now know as Cape Cod, they nearly went to a watery grave when the 
supporting beam of the Mayflower' s mainmast snapped. By the providence 
of God, one of the families on board had brought a jack, which was used 
to reinforce the beam.

But this was only the beginning of sorrows. The arrival of the Pilgrims 
on the shores of liberty was also filled with many hazards, as nearly 
one-half of their number perished the first year due to 
disease. Nevertheless, their faith in our Lord remained unmoveable. 
Throughout it all, they found much for which to be thankful that "first" 
Thanksgiving. And so do we, for our "freedom of worship" was originally 
conceived in their sacrifice.

Today, however, this freedom is being threatened on every hand, both 
here and abroad. Perhaps the greatest threat is Islam! Christians 
around the world are being persecuted for sharing Christ with those who 
are living in darkness. Islam, of course, is a religion of hate, which 
is clearly seen in the riots and recent murders of innocent Americans in 
Muslim countries. The hallmark of Christianity, on the other hand, is love.

As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, may we be 
mindful of the great price that was paid to secure our liberty.

May we be mindful that Christ also died for Muslims; only He can deliver 
them from the brutality of their religion and set them free from a life 
of oppression. May we be mindful of our troops over seas who are the 
guardians of our nation, preserving our freedom to worship here in 
America without fear of persecution. Many of these defenders of our 
values will be sitting in a bunker this Thanksgiving in some faraway 
country. There was a popular saying at the time of our country' s 
founding which is as true now as it was then: "Eternal vigilance is the 
price of liberty."

May we all give thanks for the salvation that we enjoy in Christ, even 
the forgiveness of our dreadful sins that would have condemned us. "O 
give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth 
forever" (Psa. 107:1). AMEN!

*Our Purpose and Mission

The ministry of "Grace and The Truth" has the purpose of encouraging 
Christians to believe what God says.

Message "CHRIST" Rom. 16:25, Col. 1:28
Material "All Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16, 17
Method "Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth, 2 Tim. 2:15
Mission "To Make All See" Eph. 3:9

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by 
the blood of Christ." Eph.2:13.

**We are dedicated to helping Christians to a fuller knowledge of Him, 
and the Grace of God. Until we all come into the Unity, Ephesians 4:13 
"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the 
Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the 
fullness of Christ:"

We are wiling to help you on this journey just give us a call, 1 623 
546 8866, Paris
*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

*RISEN IN CHRIST *
*By John Baker*Scripture I Thessalonians 4:16 "For the Lord himself shall descend from 
heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump 
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first"

One of the greatest hopes of the believer is the resurrection. It is the 
capstone of our salvation purchased by the Lord Jesus Christ at Calvary. 
His resurrection assures that redemption&# 39;s price has been paid and 
accepted. For He was "delivered for our offences, and was raised again 
for (on account of) our justification" (Romans 4:25). The resurrection 
of Christ not only is the assurance of our justification but also 
assures our resurrection. "But now is Christ risen from the dead and 
become the first fruits of them that slept" (I Corinthians 15:20). 
Therein is the believer' s hope, for "If in this life only we have hope 
in Christ, we are of all men most miserable (or to be pitied)" (I 
Corinthians 15:19).

An important part of the message revealed through the Apostle Paul was 
the catching away of believers to be with Christ in glory, which we call 
the Rapture. "Behold I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but 
we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the 
last trump; "for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised 
incorruptible, and we shall be changed" (I Corinthians 15:51, 52).

At the time of the Rapture some believers will be alive and caught away 
without experiencing physical death. However those who have died in 
Christ will join them "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, 
even them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him" (I 
Thessalonians 4:14). This indeed is a "blessed hope" for which all 
believers expectantly wait with full assurance. This hope is available 
to all who will believe the gospel (how that Christ died for their sins, 
was buried and arose again) and put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ 
as Saviour.
Dear faithful Lord, I long to live by faith more and more as each day 
dawns. I see that this is the only way I can access Your glorious grace. 
Lord, I need Your grace constantly. No other resource will suffice. Too 
often I am striving by my best performance. What weariness and failure 
always results. Show me the areas of my life where I am not trusting in 
You, that I might look to You anew. In Your gracious name I pray, Amen.
*GraceNTheTruth@COX.NET*

In Christ-The New Man *
*PART SEVEN---CONCLUSION*
*By Pastor Joe S. Leftwich 
This tells us that the believer is "in Christ." We, as spirit beings, 
were dead in trespasses and sin, but now have been made alive in Christ 
and raised up with Him and seated with Him at the right hand of God in 
heavenly places in Christ. This is our eternal position.

To affirm the obvious, the Scriptures say that we are right now seated 
at the right hand of God in heavenly places in Christ. And yet 
experiential we are alive in our old mortal body of flesh here on earth; 
here on the battlefield of this world, living our new lives in Christ as 
ambassadors for Christ in our old body of flesh with all its old natural 
desires and appetites. This, from a natural point of view, seems to be 
an untenable position, but from a spiritual point of view we have 
already been assured of the victory.

These spiritual truths cannot be proven by science and are not 
experienced by natural man's senses: thinking, seeing, feeling, hearing, 
or tasting. The things we learn from God are learned only through faith, 
believing what the Spirit of God has said to us through the Holy 
Scriptures.

I pray that you have a good grasp of this situation because it is from 
this description of who we are in Christ that we are going to study 
Paul's epistles, discovering, interpreting and implementing his 
instructions as to how we can and should live our lives in a manner well 
pleasing to God.

We are called "His workmanship" : "For we are His workmanship, created in 
Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should 
walk in them" (Eph.2:10).

Please see this: that God has made it possible for you, a believer in 
Christ, to partake and participate in your own spiritual growth and 
development. We, being who we are "in Christ," can "by the Spirit of 
God" be putting to death the deeds of the body, thereby "perfecting 
holiness" ; not "PERFECT holiness" but "PERFECTING holiness." These are 
God's words not mine!

Paul, by the Holy Spirit has asked us to "cleanse ourselves" : "Having 
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from 
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear 
of God" (2 Cor. 7:1). Why would Paul ask us to do this? Do you think he 
really wants us to cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and 
spirit? Absolutely! Will we be completely successful? Absolutely not! 
But we can constantly be applying ourselves to the concept of putting to 
death the deeds of the flesh in the spirit of obedience to His Word.

Do you agree that Romans 8:13, "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall 
die; but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye 
shall live," is a good verse to implement 2 Corinthians 7:1: "Having 
therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from 
all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear 
of God"? This is an ongoing perfecting of holiness in our lives that we 
can and should be doing for the balance of our lives here on earth in 
our flesh.

*"God has prepared us with power and promises to carry out any 
instructions He gives .. " *

*Dear faithful Lord,*
* I long to live by faith more and more as each day dawns.*
* I see that this is the only way I can access Your glorious grace. Lord, *
*I need Your grace constantly.*
* No other resource will suffice. *
*Too often I am striving by my best performance. *
*What weariness and failure always results.*
* Show me the areas of my life where I am not trusting in You, *
*that I might look to You anew. In Your gracious name I pray, Amen.*

*GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND MY CIRCUMSTANCES *
*
Scripture Reading: Psa. 91; Phil. 4:11-13

"Milk from contented cows" has been the famous slogan of the Carnation 
Milk Co. But what about contentment in your life? Notice how Paul 
confessed that he had to "learn" this "secret" of how to be content in 
all situations of life!

The word he uses for "content" and "contentment&q uot; is a Greek word meaning 
"to be possessed of sufficient strength" and thus to be "sufficient in 
one's self." This is not the self-sufficiency and complacency of the 
flesh and the world. It is one of the virtues which God alone can infuse 
into the personality of His redeemed ones. It comes from above: "I can 
do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.," Better 
translated, this verse reads: "I am equal to all anythings in the One 
who infuseth me with strength." Bless the Lord! So whether I am in 
trying and tough circumstances, or whether I am in easy and pleasant 
circumstances, I can do all that God expects of me How? "Through Christ 
which strengtheneth me."

Madam Guyon, after ten years spent in a dungeon far below the surface of 
the ground, lit only by a candle, at meal-time, wrote these words which 
bear out this blessed truth:
*
**
*"A little bird I am, *
*Shut from the fields of air; *
*Yet in my cage I sit and sing *
*To Him who placed me there: *
*Well pleased a prisoner to be,*
*Because, my God, it pleases Thee.*
*Ah! it is good to soar *
*These bolts and bars above *
*To Him whose purpose I adore,*
*Whose Providence I love:*
*And in Thy mighty will to find *
*The joy, the freedom of the mind."*
**
*This is not an easy lesson for any of US to learn! Yet we can learn it 
when we take the sovereign God, our Savior, into view. And remember 
today: "He giveth MORE grace" (James 4:6). Praise the Lord!

*Your sense of failure may be the*
* catalyst God wants to use to bring *
*you to a new understanding *
*of the meaning of the Christian l

*GraceNTheTruth@COX.NET*

*In Christ-The New Man *
*PART FIVE*
*By Pastor Joe S. Leftwich *
God has prepared us with power and promises to carry out any 
instructions He gives, so that we can live our lives in the flesh, in 
this world, well pleasing to Him. We are His workmanship, created in 
Christ Jesus for good works. He wants us, you and me, to act in our own 
lives to carry out His will. For example, look at something God asks you 
to do that would have been impossible before becoming a new creature in 
Christ. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse 
ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting 
holiness in the fear of God." Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian 
Christians in II Corinthians 7:1.

Given our preparation by God as explained in the list of things God has 
done in every believer to prepare us to live a life well pleasing to 
Him, what should your response be to His request? How about, "Yes 
Father, I know that You would not ask me to do something that I could 
not do. I will start identifying those things in my life that are 
contrary to Your will and do some cleansing of myself from all 
defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

We know that we will never "perfect" holiness; we will never do a 
complete cleansing of ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit 
while we are living here on this earth in this mortal body of flesh, 
which has a nature of strong desires it wants satisfied, but we can be 
"perfecting&qu ot; (working on) it. So let us take a look at what we are faced 
with in regard to our flesh. Our flesh has appetites and is constantly 
suggesting to our minds that we fulfill these appetites whether or not 
they are moral, legal, or healthy.

Even though we are "renewing our minds," we will still have old memories 
of the things we did in the flesh that were contrary to God's will, but 
were very pleasing, and our flesh, calling on these memories, constantly 
suggests that we do those same things we enjoyed so much. This is a 
lifetime battle, "for the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the 
Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other; 
so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Gal 5:17).

The Scriptures list three sources of temptations: the lust of the eyes 
(coveting); the lust of the flesh (food, sex, etc.), and the pride of 
life (vanity, arrogance: Look at who I am, or what I have, or what I 
have done!). Are you able to distinguish between lust and the natural 
healthy desires one has, to succeed and enjoy the good things of life? 
One difference is that lust will lead you to break God's laws. The 
natural enjoyment of our desires that are in accordance with God's will 
is what life is all about. Adam and Eve were meant to enjoy 
gratification of the natural desires that God had given them for food, 
beauty, sexual relations and having children.

One lust is the desire for sexual fulfillment outside of God's will. 
Enjoying God's gifts is wonderful Lust is disastrous. Lust is never 
satisfied! Lust knows not logic; it knows only: "but I want it." But you 
can now say, "You can't have it!" It may take many repetitions and a 
period of time to put to death these deeds of the flesh, but we are 
directed to make this a lifetime quest. Lust begins in the brain as a 
thought that enters the ear gate or the eye gate. This is an extremely 
important subject and is worthy of more time than we have in this basic 
core study of Scriptural observations about lust. Lust is a strong 
desire for something that will bring immediate personal, sensual 
gratification without regard as to whether it is moral or lawful 
Biblical lust carries the idea that it has gone beyond just being 
tempted. Lust cares not a whit about what damage is done or who it 
offends or hurts.

You, believer in Christ, are living in and ruling from, your brain. This 
is made clear from such instructions from Paul as Romans 6:1213: "Let 
not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in 
the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of 
unrighteousness unto sin; but yield yourselves unto God, as those that 
are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of 
righteousness unto God." One's brain is the only part of who we are in 
which information is taken in, thought about, and in which decisions are 
made and sent out as commands to the members of our body to carry out.

*Ephesians 2:10*
*His fact we are-his workmanship, *
*Created in Christ Jesus upon a footing of good works, *
*Which God prepared beforehand, That *
*(therein) we might walk. *
* (Rotherham)*
***Thank You for cleansing me of all unrighteousness.
Thank You for clothing me in
the righteousness of Your dear Son.
Now I place my hope in You for
any and all progress in the path of righteousness.
O Lord, have Your way in my life,
working Your will,
by Your grace, through Jesus Christ my Lord.
And I praise You for living Your life thu me. Amen*

*In Christ-The New Man *
*PART SIX*
*By Pastor Joe S. Leftwich *
These are direct instructions to Christians in this verse, "let not sin 
therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts 
thereof." Can you refuse to obey your lusts? God says you not only can, 
but that you should. God does not ask you to do something that you 
cannot do. As we discovered earlier, we can be using Romans 8:13: "For 
if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit 
do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." Let's highlight this 
last half of this last sentence, "But if ye through the Spirit do 
mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live."

Satan tempts by bringing thoughts to one's mind. The thought itself is 
not sin. What one does with that thought determines whether it becomes 
sin. Is the thought entertained, encouraged and enjoyed, or recognized 
for what it is and rejected? Satan put some thoughts into the mind of 
Jesus that if they had been entertained and acted on would have been 
sin. But Jesus, knowing His enemy's strategy, immediately answered with 
quotations from the Scriptures. Satan can put thoughts, terribly wrong 
thoughts, into our minds, but if they are immediately recognized for 
what they are and rejected, it is a victory of our new man's battle with 
the flesh.

The natural man doesn't have concern about such things. To him they are 
just natural appetites to be satisfied any way they can. I Corinthians 
2:14: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of 
God: for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, 
because they are spiritually discerned." The Christian, on the other 
hand, has guidelines to follow. Under Law or under Grace, it is still 
wrong to lie, commit adultery, cheat, or steal. In fact, the believer 
has a higher standard, he is not to commit adultery in his heart.

While we are doing battle, it is comforting to know that as believers 
under Grace our actions do not determine our eternal destiny. That has 
already been settled for eternity. The believer has already been seated 
at the right hand of God in Christ Jesus in heavenly places. He wants us 
to know that we are secure in Him, and God never changes His mind!

The law has no power to change a man's heart. It can only reveal 
trespasses: "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; That the righteousness of the law 
might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the 
Spirit" (Rom. 8:3-4). Because of what God has done, even though we now 
walk according to the flesh, God has made it possible for us to walk 
according to the Spirit!

Remember, "they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the 
flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit," and 
"to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life 
and peace" (Rom. 8:5-6). What kind of a "mind-set" ; do we have?

Romans 8:9: "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be 
that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit 
of Christ, he is none of His."

*We don't change God's message -- His message changes us.*

* Dear Father*
*You know that I have sincerely tried to live as a victorious Christian. *
*I have done my personal best,*
* but now I realize that has been my problem-it has been "my best" that 
I've trusted,*
* instead of Your life.*
* I CHOOSE NOW to trust You not my self-sufficiency and affirm that from 
this moment forward *
*I will trust You to live through me.*
* I choose to rest in You,*
* depending upon You to cause*
* the power of indwelling sin in me to stay in remission.*
* You are my Victory, oh Lord. For that fact, I thank You, Amen *

*In Christ-The New Man *
*Part two*
*By Pastor Joe S. Leftwich *
How would you describe the average Christian' s understanding of what it 
means to be "saved" and how he should live the Christian life in today's 
world? Who does he believe himself to be? How does he understand his 
relationship and responsibilities to God?

Most conservative Christians believe that they are saved, usually 
quoting John 3:16. Most believe that they should attend church, get 
involved in Bible classes, support missions and the local church in its 
endeavors to spread the gospel. And most have pastors who preach 
ninety-five percent of their Sunday messages with texts from the four 
Gospels. Their pastors probably cover the essential beliefs and 
activities as Christians until Jesus comes again to rapture His Church, 
His Body.

Now let us look at the contrast in messages as given by Paul in his 
epistles and those given by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Paul wrote in 
Galatians 4:4 that Jesus was born under the Law. God's administration 
here on earth covered by the Gospels was a life under the Law. The 
Apostle John wrote in John 1:11: "He came unto His own, and His own 
received Him not." What gospel was being preached by Jesus? Mark 
1:14,15: "Jesus came, into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom 
of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at 
hand." And in Matthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, and 
to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'"

Where, by whom, and to whom was this message of the kingdom of God to be 
preached? This is recorded in Matthew 10:1-8: ''And when He had called 
unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean 
spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all 
manner of disease .... These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded 
them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of 
the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the 
house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is 
at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out 
devils .... "
The message, the messengers, and the ones to whom the message was given 
were all a different administration than what one finds in Paul's 
epistles to "the Church which is His Body." Surely this is enough 
material to make the case that the four Gospels were written to the 
Jews, and purposely excluded the Gentiles when Jesus said specifically, 
"Go not into the way of the Gentiles." Another clear indication of the 
difference between the Gospels and the other books of the New Testament 
was the whole way of life at that time.

Let's review the period of the Gospels: The Law, the Temple, and the 
offerings were in full operation during all of the life of Jesus on this 
earth. God made His offering of The Lamb of God, His Son, "without 
blemish and without spot" for the sins of Israel.

Through past ages and generations the prophets spoke of the coming 
Messiah, who would be the Great Deliverer of the Jews; Jesus was that 
Messiah. He was born under the Law. He came to His own while under the 
Law and His own received Him not. There are hundreds of prophecies in 
the Old Testament concerning the Messiah that are fulfilled in Jesus 
Christ.

The Father's giving of His Son as an offering for sins through Israel 
and the Son's coming to give Himself are recorded in John 1:1-14. John 
wrote in Verse one, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was 
with God, and the Word was God;" and in Verse 14, "And the Word became 
flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory .... "

Jesus, to fulfill the requirements of the Law concerning His being 
offered by God as "The Lamb of God" for sin, must be observed for the 
required period of time to be declared that He was without blemish. 
Jesus fulfilled this requirement by living among them for thirty-three 
years and was declared to be without blemish. He was the only acceptable 
offering for the sins of the world. He lived His life and ministered 
among His people right up until it was time for Him to be offered by His 
Father for the sins of all mankind, from Adam and Eve to every man, 
woman and child who will ever be born into this world, which was 
ultimately revealed "in due time" through Paul's gospel (1 Tim. 2:3-7).
O Lord, my Redeemer, thank You for using Your law as a tutor to lead me 
to Jesus Christ.
Your law was so correct regarding my desperate need of a Savior.
 Now I rejoice that I am no longer under that tutor.
 What a delight to relate to You by faith and not by performance.
 How wonderful to look to a gracious, loving Person, the Lord Jesus, 
instead
 of to a perfect unyielding standard, the law.
 Lord Jesus, please complete in me the good work of Your grace
 that began when I first believed in You.
I pray,and give thanks. Amen.
*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

*In Christ-The New Man *
*Part three*
So the four Gospels were all about God's coming to His own as their 
Messiah. He loved them and had a feast prepared for them but they would 
not come to the table. He came to His own and His own received Him not. 
The Son also gave Himself up as an offering for us Gentiles. The offer 
is still open.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have recorded for all eternity the coming 
of the Son of God into the world as a baby born to Mary and Joseph, His 
life as a child, His ministry to "His own," the Jews, reaching, 
teaching, healing, and performing miracles. I don't know of any 
references in the Gospels about Christ coming to the Gentiles. 
Therefore, I urge that we understand and accept the obvious purpose of 
the Gospels.

I believe it is a grievous mistake for Gentiles to claim the Gospels as 
their guide for being born into the Body of Christ. The writings of the 
Apostle Paul contain God's invitation to the Gentiles: I Corinthians 
15:1-4: "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 .... 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."

The four Gospels on the other hand record Jesus, born under the Law, 
coming to His own (the Jews), preaching to them day after day, 
demonstrating His Messiahship, and proclaiming His love for them and 
giving Himself as an offering for sins, first for the Jews, then for the 
Gentiles. God's gospel, given to Nicodemus, is John 3:16, "For God so 
loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever 
believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." This was 
the message of John to his people, the Jews, that they might enter the 
kingdom of God.

"'Christ in you' is the seminal truth of our lives as Christians here on 
this earth ... :'

Why am I emphasizing that the Gospels were written primarily to the 
Jews? Because there are a great number of Christians, including many 
pastors, who live in the Gospels with John 3:16 as their salvation verse 
and missionary programs patterned after them. The missionary program 
Paul proclaims is that of every believer having been appointed as a 
living ambassador for Christ, permeating the world as messengers for 
Christ. God sent another message and another messenger to the Gentiles: 
the message of Grace through His messenger, the Apostle PauL

So hopefully, we have proved that the four Gospels are not the source of 
God's message for this age for which Paul has been chosen as God's 
apostle to reveal His message to the Gentiles. Hopefully, we have also 
proved that the four Gospels, precious as they are, do not reveal this 
mystery that the Apostle Paul has been divinely chosen to reveal. So let 
us seek to understand this great revelation of God's Mystery: Christ in 
you the hope of glory.

I see Romans 5:9,10 as being the transition statement of God from life 
under the law of sin and death to life under the law of the Spirit of 
life in Christ Jesus. So, my fellow believers in Christ, reason with me 
as we look at these two verses that describe this transition: "Much 
more, being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath 
through Him" and "much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His 
life."

Think with me for a minute, why does Paul use the phrase "much more"? 
Notice where he uses it. He uses it just before "having been justified 
and saved by His blood from the wrath of God." What could possibly be 
"much more" than being saved from the wrath of God? I thought this was 
what being saved was all about! But Paul tells us there is something 
"much more" than being saved from the wrath of God. What is it, Paul? 
Paul answers briefly and succinctly, "We shall be saved by His life."

"We shall be saved by His life." This is really what all the rest of our 
study is about. It is about our being in Christ, new creatures in 
Christ, and we will find that this is what it means to be "saved by His 
life." Before you were saved from the wrath of God, you were dead in 
trespasses and sin. But when you believed the gospel you were made alive 
in Christ! You were dead in trespasses and sin but now you are being 
saved by His life.

We are going to learn together what this life in Christ and being saved 
by His life is all about. The Christian is unique, he is a "new man" in 
Christ! This is what is meant by being "saved by His life;" "Christ in 
you, the hope of glory"! We can understand being saved by His death, 
burial, and resurrection, but then we must discover an adequate meaning 
for our "being saved by His life."

Frankly, my mind is settled on the question. I have been made alive in 
Christ and I have been made a new creature in Christ; my life in this 
mortal body, this body of flesh, is being saved by my being in Christ. 
"For if while 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"!

We have looked at the message, now let us look at the messenger.
The designated messenger to the Gentiles is the Apostle Paul. In Acts 
9:15,16, the Lord sent Ananias to minister to Saul, telling him, "Go thy 
way; for he is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the 
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel."

Conclusion: it was Paul and Paul alone that was called to go to the 
Gentiles. I am a Gentile, so I reason that God would have me go to the 
writings of Paul for instructions about who I am, what God expects of me 
and what provisions He has given for my being able to carry out His 
instructions. Why do we Christians who believe in the death, burial, and 
resurrection of Jesus Christ go to the Gospels, which were written to 
the Jews who were under the Law, for instructions about how we are to 
live our lives under Grace?
To Be Continued!
*I pray dear Lord of manifold grace,*
* I earnestly yearn to grow in every aspect of Your grace.*
* Lord Jesus, I humbly desire to find increasing intimacy with You.*
* Please work Your grace deeply into my heart and manifest it fully,*
* as you live your life through me.*
* I will trust you to make all the choices,*
* and give you praise and credit for all. Amen*
*In Christ-The New Man *
*Part four*
*By Pastor Joe S. Leftwich *

*
God's gospel to the Gentiles now includes the resurrection of Christ, 
and is proclaimed by Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth in I 
Corinthians 15:3-4: "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."

Paul's salvation message includes Christ's resurrection and adds the 
fact that the believer is baptized into Christ. This baptism is not 
symbolic. We believers have been placed into the body of Christ. There 
are about 55 phrases using the phrase "in Christ." We can now say that 
Paul teaches that every believer in the gospel, as he has given it, is a 
new creature, or creation, in Christ.

I submit that today's popular mixing of these messages given by Matthew, 
Mark, Luke, and John to the Jews and that of the Apostle Paul to the 
Gentiles is a confusion of God's administrations of Law and Grace. Those 
living under the Law could, as Jesus told Nicodemus, be "born again" and 
have eternal life; but nothing is said to Nicodemus about being "new 
creatures in Christ." If one understands even a little bit about what 
God has done for the believer in the death, burial, and resurrection of 
our Lord Jesus Christ, he will not confuse these messages.

As a new creature in Christ, God can now reveal spiritual truths to you 
about His will for your life. A part of this revelation to us is found 
in Colossians 1:27: "To whom God would make known what is the riches of 
the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, 
the hope of glory."

Stop in some of these places and just memorize and meditate. These are 
majestic statements. Think about it! God willed, God exercised His will 
to make known the "riches of the glory of this mystery among the 
Gentiles" defined as "Christ in you the hope of glory"! If we are to 
attempt to understand a revelation of this magnitude, we must study the 
Scriptures in which it is revealed.

Paul has defined the core meaning of this revelation as being "Christ in 
you." Think about it! God through Paul is revealing this "Mystery" to 
"His saints," you and me who have believed His gospel. Ask yourself, 
what fits this explanation better than what we are now studying? It fits 
exactly this extraordinary truth of God taking us, who were dead in 
trespasses and sin, and making us alive in Jesus Christ, and making us 
new creatures in Christ.

With this in mind, read this benediction from Paul: "Now to Him that is 
of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of 
Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept 
secret since the world began, But now is made manifest, and by the 
Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the 
everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith" 
(Rom. 16:25-26).

*THOUGHT FOR THE W**EEK*

*Thank God for what you have, *
*TRUST GOD for what you need.*
* If you fill your heart with regrets *
*of yesterday and the worries of*
* tomorrow, you have no today*
* to be thankful for.*

In Christ-The New Man 
Part two
By Pastor Joe S. Leftwich 

How would you describe the average Christian's understanding of what it means to be "saved" and how he should live the Christian life in today's world? Who does he believe himself to be? How does he understand his relationship and responsibilities to God? 

Most conservative Christians believe that they are saved, usually quoting John 3:16. Most believe that they should attend church, get involved in Bible classes, support missions and the local church in its endeavors to spread the gospel. And most have pastors who preach ninety-five percent of their Sunday messages with texts from the four Gospels. Their pastors probably cover the essential beliefs and activities as Christians until Jesus comes again to rapture His Church, His Body. 

Now let us look at the contrast in messages as given by Paul in his epistles and those given by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Paul wrote in Galatians 4:4 that Jesus was born under the Law. God's administration here on earth covered by the Gospels was a life under the Law. The Apostle John wrote in John 1:11: "He came unto His own, and His own received Him not." What gospel was being preached by Jesus? Mark 1:14,15: "Jesus came, into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand." And in Matthew 4:17: "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.'" 

Where, by whom, and to whom was this message of the kingdom of God to be preached? This is recorded in Matthew 10:1-8: ''And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease .... These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into any city of the Samaritans enter ye not: but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils .... "
 
The message, the messengers, and the ones to whom the message was given were all a different administration than what one finds in Paul's epistles to "the Church which is His Body." Surely this is enough material to make the case that the four Gospels were written to the Jews, and purposely excluded the Gentiles when Jesus said specifically, "Go not into the way of the Gentiles." Another clear indication of the difference between the Gospels and the other books of the New Testament was the whole way of life at that time. 

Let's review the period of the Gospels: The Law, the Temple, and the offerings were in full operation during all of the life of Jesus on this earth. God made His offering of The Lamb of God, His Son, "without blemish and without spot" for the sins of Israel.

Through past ages and generations the prophets spoke of the coming Messiah, who would be the Great Deliverer of the Jews; Jesus was that Messiah. He was born under the Law. He came to His own while under the Law and His own received Him not. There are hundreds of prophecies in the Old Testament concerning the Messiah that are fulfilled in Jesus Christ. 

The Father's giving of His Son as an offering for sins through Israel and the Son's coming to give Himself are recorded in John 1:1-14. John wrote in Verse one, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God;" and in Verse 14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory .... " 

Jesus, to fulfill the requirements of the Law concerning His being offered by God as "The Lamb of God" for sin, must be observed for the required period of time to be declared that He was without blemish. Jesus fulfilled this requirement by living among them for thirty-three years and was declared to be without blemish. He was the only acceptable offering for the sins of the world. He lived His life and ministered among His people right up until it was time for Him to be offered by His Father for the sins of all mankind, from Adam and Eve to every man, woman and child who will ever be born into this world, which was ultimately revealed "in due time" through Paul's gospel (1 Tim. 2:3-7). 


O Lord, my Redeemer, thank You for using Your law as a tutor to lead me to Jesus Christ.
Your law was so correct regarding my desperate need of a Savior.
 Now I rejoice that I am no longer under that tutor.
 What a delight to relate to You by faith and not by performance.
 How wonderful to look to a gracious, loving Person, the Lord Jesus, instead
 of to a perfect unyielding standard, the law.
 Lord Jesus, please complete in me the good work of Your grace
 that began when I first believed in You. 
I pray,and give thanks. Amen.

*CHRIST IS RICH *
*Colossians 1:13-18 *
*by James R. Gray *

*
Paul in Colossians gives a great description of who Jesus Christ is to 
us as believers. Paul describes Christ as RICH:

Redeemer.
This describes Christ in relation to us. He is our redeemer. The work of 
redemption is to buy back that which is lost. Christ redeems us from the 
market place of sin. This did not come cheap. I Peter 1:18-19 tells us 
we have been redeemed with the blood of Christ. Silver or gold could not 
do it. Some has said that, "money is the universal passport for 
everywhere except Heaven, and the universal provider for everything 
except happiness." We have been purchased with His own blood (Acts 20:28).

Image of God.
This describes Christ in relation to God the Father. He is the image of 
the invisible God. This reminds us that God is spirit and cannot be seen 
(John 1:18). The word "image" is the Greek word eikon, which means 
"precise copy, reproduction. " Jesus is the image of God. He declared, 
"He that hath seen Me hath seen the father" (John 14:9).

Creator.
This speaks of His relation to creation. He is the "firstborn&quo t; of 
creation. This does not mean He was first created being. It has the idea 
of primacy more than priority. He has the place of prestige and honor. A 
place of honor deserved because He is the creator. For "by Him" were all 
things created. He is both the agent of creation and the purpose of 
creation, for all things were created "for Him."

Head.
This describes Christ in relationship to the Church, the body of Christ. 
Christ as head of the body implies two things: (1) Submission. The body 
is to be submissive to the head. It is the head that controls, rules, 
and guides the body. (2) Unity. The head and the body are not two, but a 
unit. The head and the body are one. However, it is the head that is to 
have the preeminence. (Col. 1: 18). May He have first place in our life.

*Today, many of us own Bibles, but are we changed*
*by the truths found there?*
*We are called to read,*
*hear, and obey His Word.*
*It should cause us to take immediate action*
* to bring our lives into harmony with God’s desires.*
*—Marvin Williams*

*In Christ-The New Man
PART ONE
By Pastor Joe S. Leftwich *
*

In Christ we were made "a new creature" (2 Cor. 5:17). "Even when we 
were dead in sins, [God] hath quickened us together with Christ" 
(Eph.2:5). "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in 
heavenly places in Christ" (Eph. 2:6). "For by grace are ye saved 
through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" (Eph. 
2:8).

The Scriptures declare that the things above have already been done 
(past tense) to and for the believer in Christ! What part did we play in 
the above actions? Zero!

Not only are the above statements true, but there are many other 
descriptive elements in having been made new creatures in Christ. We 
died to sin (Rom. 6:2). We were "baptized into His death" (Rom. 6:3). We 
were "buried with Him" (Rom. 6:4). We were raised with Him in our Lord 
Jesus Christ (Rom. 6:4). Our "Old Man" was crucified with Christ (Rom. 
6:6). Our "body of sin" has been done away with (Rom. 6:6), so we should 
not let sin reign in our mortal bodies (Rom. 6:12).

We were washed, sanctified, and justified (1 Cor. 6:11). We were made 
"complete" ; in Him (Col. 2:10). Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 
3:20). We were made ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:20). We reign in 
grace, in Christ and "in life" (Rom. 5:17). We reign! We can choose to 
offer our bodies as a living and holy sacrifice to God (Rom. 12:1). We 
reign! We can choose "not to be conformed to this world" (Rom. 12:2). We 
reign! We can choose to renew our minds that we might "prove what is 
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2). We can 
take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:5).

Does this list of things God has already done in and for every believer 
in Christ for eternity surprise you? Everything in Scripture from 
Genesis through mid-Acts has been leading up to this crowning of God's 
love for mankind and is now being revealed by His Apostle Paul, today, 
in this age of Grace.

God's chosen people, the Jews, had lived through many generations and 
several administrations (dispensations) in which God had been revealing 
Himself to His people in many ways: through His Law, for instance, given 
through Moses. But even while the Law was being delivered by God to 
Moses in the mountain, His chosen people were involved in gross sin down 
below. God had delivered them out of Egypt and had led them through the 
wilderness, by the supernatural pillar of fire by night and the pillar 
of cloud by day. He also gave them supernaturally, manna from heaven and 
water out of the Rock.

The list could go on, but these things are not new to most people with a 
cursory knowledge of Scripture. God had promised His people a Messiah, 
and they looked for Him with great anticipation. It is recorded in the 
Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, that God had sent their Messiah, 
Jesus Christ, into the world to be Savior of the world. It is stated 
simply but magnificently that, "He came unto His own, and His own 
received Him not" (John 1:11).

The four Gospels covered the administration of the old covenant under 
the Law. The New Covenant could not begin until the death, burial, and 
resurrection of Jesus Christ which of course came at the end of the four 
Gospels. Therefore, one could argue that the choice of those translating 
and publishing the Bible arguably could have put the four Gospels as the 
last four books of the Old Testament.

The emphasis of this article will be on the importance of knowing Paul's 
message to both Jews and Gentiles during this age of Grace, with a 
special emphasis on the application of his message to the lives of 
believers. In this article we will be focusing on the Mystery which has 
been hidden from (past) ages and generations which God is now revealing 
through His Apostle Paul to His saints, and through His saints to the 
world, which is, "Christ in you" (Col. 1:26,27).

"Christ in you" is the seminal truth of our lives as Christians here on 
this earth; the root, stem, branches and fruit of this truth as it 
blossoms in our understanding of who we are, and this growing 
realization that there is a whole new you, created in Christ Jesus. This 
understanding of our new identity makes us capable of fulfilling all of 
His expectations of how He wants us to live in this world, in this 
present lifetime, as new creations in Christ dwelling in our old mortal 
body of flesh, well pleasing to Him.

We, as Christians, have a tendency to be negative about our ability to 
live our lives well pleasing to God. We tend to emphasize what we cannot 
do. The enemy is just too powerful, it is said. Our "old nature," it is 
argued, has habits that are systemic and demand constant gratification, 
that are beyond our ability to control even if we are Christians. This, 
they say, is our dilemma.

The reasoning in this article assumes that the reader has believed the 
gospel and has been baptized by the Spirit into the Body of Christ. This 
is essential because the "natural man" cannot understand the things of God.

*Dear Father*
*You know that I have sincerely tried to live as a victorious Christian.*
* I have done my personal best,*
* but now I realize that has been my problem, it has been "my best" that 
I've trusted, *
*instead of Your life.*
* I repent of self-sufficiency and affirm that*
* from this moment forward I will trust You to live through me.*
* I choose to rest in You,*
* depending upon You to cause the power of indwelling sin in me to stay 
in remission.*
* You are my Victory, oh Lord. For that fact, I thank You, Amen *

GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND TEMPTATION*
*By Paul Hume*

Scripture Reading: Jas. 1:12-17; I Cor. 10:12-13

Why are we tempted? Why doesn't God so arrange things so that there will 
be no temptations, or few, at least, to do wrong. James tells us clearly 
all through the first chapter of his brief Epistle. We learn from James 
1:2-4 that God orders certain trials to come into our lives to the end 
that we may be "fully developed and perfectly equipped, without any 
defects" (William Trans.). But then in verses 13-15 James speaks of that 
inward enticement to do evil. This "temptation&qu ot; comes not from 
God--though it operates under His sovereign good pleasure even as does 
Satan and all evil. This "temptation&qu ot; comes from within. It is the Evil 
One--the tempter--drawing us, through our evil nature, to do those 
things which are contrary to the revealed will of God.

Dr. Charles Ryrie "in his excellent book, Balancing the Christian Life 
(by all means obtain a copy: published by Moody Press, costs $3.95) 
states several things about why God allows us to be harassed by various 
temptations during Iife. He states: "But as with all temptations, a test 
which God designed to teach us something may be failed and the lesson 
lost. In that case, the only solution is to confess the sin, pick 
oneself up again, learn the lesson of the weakness of the flesh, and 
lean harder on the power of God. But, you. say, are not the risks so 
great that God would do better to eliminate temptations from our lives? 
The answer is no, for testing is the route to approval and growth in our 
Christian lives. Proving requires testing; growth is faster in the face 
of opposition; great results involve great risks. Testings are God's way 
of offering us opportunities for approval and growth; they are the way 
of Satan's defeat. Which way we go depends largely on us." (P. 138.)

So when you are tested by the Lord through various persons who cross 
your path or various circumstances you pass through, or whether you're 
tempted by Satan through your fallen nature to think or do some evil, 
remember this. It is a test God has meant for you to pass. He has given 
us His Word that He will not "allow you to be tempted above that you are 
able." He has also given His Son as our Helper (Heb. 2:18).


*I find that doing the will of God leaves me with no time for*
*disputing about His plans.*
 -- George MacDonald*

*SALESMEN AND SOLDIERS*
*by C. R. Stam *
It is true indeed that salvation is bestowed by grace and received 
through faith --- entirely apart from works, religious or otherwise. But 
it is equally true that it costs to embrace the truth and costs even 
more to stand for it, rather than selling out. This is why Proverbs 
23:23 exhorts us to "buy the truth and sell it not". In this sense we 
are not to sell the truth. Yet in another sense we are salesmen of the 
truth, urging men to buy it.

As we do this we find that there are those who would actually seek to 
hinder men from buying the truth. Yet it is not primarily they who 
oppose our efforts, but Satan and his hosts.

"FOR WE WRESTLE NOT AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD, BUT AGAINST PRINCIPALITIES, 
AGAINST POWERS, AGAINST THE RULERS OF THE DARKNESS OF THIS WORLD [age], 
AGAINST SPIRITUAL WICKEDNESS [wicked spirits] IN HIGH PLACES" (Eph.6:12).

This is why God's salesmen must also be "good soldiers of Jesus Christ" 
(II Tim.2:3). We must make the glorious message known despite the 
opposition. We must "put on the whole armour of God" and meet our 
adversaries with "the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" 
(Eph.6:11,17) . When they would shut our mouths we must pray for 
ourselves and each other:

"...that utterance may be given unto me, THAT I MAY OPEN MY MOUTH 
BOLDLY, to make known the mystery of the [Paul's] gospel."
"...THAT THEREIN I MAY SPEAK BOLDLY, AS I OUGHT TO SPEAK" (Eph.6:19,20; 
Rom.16:25,26) .

This, by the grace of God, is our prayer and our resolve.

*Dear Lord, I thank You and praise You for Your great grace toward me. *
*May I increasingly know the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,*
* through a growing relationship with Him.*
* May I become an instrument of Your grace in the lives of others, *
*all for Your glory and honor, in Jesus name, Amen.*

THOUGHT TO PONDER THIS WEEK

In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.

*For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor 
principalities*
*nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor 
depth *
*nor any other creature. *
*These words mean that no matter what happens, *
*nothing can separate you from God's love and protection.*
* The secret is to build up in your mind, day by day, *
*the knowledge and realization of God's presence and His love for you.*
* Dwell on this mentally until it becomes an unshakeable fact* *

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

WISDOM *
*JEFF SEEKINS, Pastor *
*Scripture Reading: James 1 :5; I Corinthians 1:30 *
*

In today's world wisdom is often considered mystical, illusive, and 
unattainable. Some may even consider it synonymous with abnormality. No 
wonder the apostle records that the world by its wisdom knew not God, (I 
Corinthians 1:21). Dictionaries however, generally define wisdom as 
knowledge or discernment concerning what is right or true. And what is 
absolutely right and absolutely true is absolutely God's! Wisdom must 
come from God. As Solomon taught that the fear of the Lord was the 
instruction of wisdom in Proverbs 15:33, so our verses, though written 
from distinctly differing perspectives, agree that God is the source of 
wisdom.

>From his legalistic standpoint, James directed his hearers to ask God 
for wisdom. Paul, on the other hand, with the dispensation of God's 
grace in view, pointed out that wisdom was from God and in Christ. All 
believers today are in Christ, and wisdom is theirs in Him. But in this 
context, wisdom goes beyond mere mental exercise, to the doctrine and 
truth God gave for this dispensation. The correlation between the two 
can be seen in Ephesians chapter three. Not only is the truth of this 
dispensation of the grace of God explained, but it is also equated with 
the manifold wisdom of God in verse ten. Colossians 1:24-28, on a 
similar vein, points out that Christ is the riches of the glory of this 
mystery. He is such a rich part of this truth that Colossians 2:3 tells 
us that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Him. Yes, 
believer, "ye are in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom ... 
" ( I Corinthians 1:30). That is the very wisdom of God the Apostle Paul 
spoke in a mystery, (I Cor. 2:7).

*Heavenly Father, we are awe struck at the vast dimensions of Your grace.
Forgive us for underestimating that grace so often.
Enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know the richness of 
Your grace.
May the immeasurable ocean of Your grace
be our daily supply for life in Christ, in His name we pray, Amen.*

CHRIST OUR PASSOVER IS SACRIFICED FOR US*
*by Russell S. Miller*

When Israel came out of the land of Egypt and the Lord's gracious 
forbearance with Pharaoh required that he release the people of God from 
slavery, that Egyptian did not revere the Lord and would not let God's 
people go. On the fateful night of "the Lord's Passover" , Pharaoh 
arrogantly hardened his heart against the Lord (Ex.5:1; 14:15-18,27) .

God told the Israelites to take a lamb, roast it with fire, and bitter 
herbs, and eat it in haste, for "it is the Lord's Passover" , and "strike 
[the blood] on the two side posts and on the upper door post" of each 
house (Ex.12:1-11) .

"For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite 
all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against 
all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord."

It is not Pharaoh and his Egyptian "gods" , but Jehovah who rules the world!

"And... when I see the blood, I will pass over you... " 
(Ex.12:12,13, 29,30).

Now we come to the New Testament, and as our Lord celebrated "Passover" ; 
with His disciples, He instituted "the Lord's Supper" , a memorial of His 
shed blood, the revelation of which Christ first delivered to Paul. It 
was later revealed to "His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit" 
(ICor.1:18; 15:1-4; Rom. 3:25,26; 5:9,10; Eph.3:5; IPet.1:11,12) .

That Christ was born of "a virgin" makes His blood efficacious to save 
us from our sins (Matt.1:18-25; John 1:47; Rom.5:12; 8:3; Heb. 7:26).

This is why the Apostle Paul could say of the Lamb of God on Calvary' s 
cross:

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

Now we see that not only were Israelites redeemed by blood in the Exodus 
of Egypt some 1500 years Before Christ (Ex.12:11-14) , the typification 
of which is revealed to Paul, but we also learn that Christ's "Passover" ; 
blood now saves believing Jews and Gentiles (ICor.11:25) .

"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).

*Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you, they're*
* Supposed to help you discover who you are.*
*** -- Bernice Johnson Reagon*
*The Grace of God
By Bill Root
*
*

Tit 2:11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to 
all men"

Grace not only saves the sinner, but also keeps the saved sinner for 
eternity! There are so many deluded, misguided, souls today who think 
that God's Grace is sufficient to save them, but that after salvation, 
God leaves it up to them to keep themselves saved! If only they could 
see that if God loved us enough in our ungodly sinful state before 
salvation, to save us by His Grace, how much more He must love us after 
we have accepted His Son as our personal Saviour! The same Grace that 
saved us is the Grace that keeps us saved after we believe.

THE MESSAGE OF GRACE

First, notice--- "Grace, " So many times we hear of people who ask for 
justice. If we got justice from God, if we got what we deserved, we 
would be in Hell! Any and everything we get apart from the Lake of Fire 
is Grace! This is our message to a world lost and steeped in sin. Yes, 
God's Grace is available and sufficient for the worst, most guilty, lost 
sinner! Romans 5:20 states that " ... where sin abounded, Grace did much 
more abound." What profound love! Never in all the annals of history was 
love better expressed than on Calvary' s cross. There as His murderers 
stood gloating in unholy glee, the voice of Christ from the cross was 
heard: "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do!" Truly, "where 
sin abounded, Grace did much more abound." What wonderful freedom is 
expressed in Romans 6:14: "Ye are not under the law, but under Grace."

THE ORIGIN OF GRACE

Secondly, notice the origin of this grace... "of God. . .." Not of the 
church, not of self, but.. . of God. Paul says in Romans 15:15, 
''Neverthel ess, brethren, I have written you the more boldly, as putting 
you in mind, because of the Grace that is given me of God." It's 
wonderful to know that this Grace is of God, for we know that having its 
origin with Him, it will never be changed. Remember that Romans 11:29 
says, "The Gifts and calling of God are without repentance."

THE PURPOSE OF GRACE

Thirdly, let us notice the purpose of this grace, ".. .bringeth 
salvation " God originated, displayed, and offered His grace with one 
purpose in mind; and that was: "to bring Salvation!" Notice especially 
Ephesians 2:8-9, "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. "

I do trust that if anyone reading this article has not yet accepted this 
grace of God that you will "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" TODAY, and 
pass from death to life by simply resting upon His finished work! Apart 
from the grace of God, there is no hope! This old world is, as it were, 
a keg of dynamite, with the fuse getting shorter all the time. All of us 
who know God's purpose in Grace should get busy and help many more 
unsaved to accept this Salvation that only grace can bring.

THE SCOPE OF GRACE

Lastly, I would call your attention to the scope of this Grace, ".. .all 
men.. .." Yes, there is not a person on the face of the earth for whom 
the Grace of God is "unavailable! " Notice in connection with this 
thought, 1 Timothy 2:4 ". . . God our Saviour; Who will have ALL MEN to 
be saved..." and Romans 3:21,22 "But now the Righteousness of God 
without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the 
Prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus 
Christ unto ALL, and UPON all them that believe: for there is no 
difference."

Though the righteousness of God is unto all, it is only upon those that 
believe! So God, "who would have all men to be saved," leaves it up to 
us to carry out His purpose in Grace in bringing Salvation to those who 
will trust His Grace as expressed in Christ on the Cross.

So, in concluding, let's sum up what we have learned, Our message is 
Grace! Its origin is of God! Its purpose is to bring Salvation! And 
finally, its scope is all Men! Have you availed yourself of this Grace! 
If not, will you do it now?
Lord God of Truth, help me to rightly divide Your truth.
Enlighten my spiritual understanding that I might
increasingly grasp the differences between law and grace.
Show me the full implications of the old covenant and the new covenant.
Your word impresses me with the enormous significance of the Grace of God.
Teach me the path of humble dependence upon Your glorious grace, 
through Jesus, my Lord. Amen.*

POSITION POSSESSED *
*By Miles Stanford
"The God of peace ... working in you that which is well pleasing in His 
sight, through Jesus Christ" (Heb. 13:20, 21).

Abiding involves a dual choice. We can abide in the old nature and 
thereby become the victims of the internal civil war as depicted in 
Romans Seven. Or, we can abide (rest) in the risen Lord Jesus, the 
Source of our new nature, and thereby become the glad recipients of His 
life and liberty, as depicted in Romans Eight. "The Spirit of life in 
Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death" (Rom. 8:2).

"How do we abide? 'Of God are ye in Christ Jesus' (I Cor. 1:30). It is 
all the work of God to place you there, and He has done it. Now stay 
there! Do not be moved back onto the ground of the old nature. Never 
look at yourself as though you were not in the risen Lord Jesus Christ. 
Look at Him and see yourself a new creation in Him. Look at Him as the 
very source of your Christian life. Abide in Him. Rest in the fact that 
God has placed you in eternal union with His Son, and let the Holy 
Spirit take care of His work in you. It is for Him to make good the 
glorious promise that 'sin shall not have dominion over you' (Rom. 6:14)."

"We should be spared years of struggle and failure if we learned at once 
--- as the converts did in the days of Paul--- that we ourselves were 
taken through the death of the Lord Jesus. The past blotted out, the 
pardoned sinner accounted crucified with the crucified Lord, henceforth 
joined as a new creation to the risen Lord and now sharing His life 
(Rom. 5:10)."

"The Lord Jesus is all that we need for all that we are."

"Your life is hidden with Christ in God" (Col. 3:3).

* THE DAY OF ITCHING EARS*
* by C. R. Stam*

For the professing Church the day of theological controversy has passed. 
Ecumenism is now the word on every tongue. Church leaders appear to have 
become convinced that the stifling confusion in the Church can be 
overcome only by all of us getting together, minimizing our differences 
and emphasizing those doctrines on which we all agree. As a result some 
of the most important doctrines of Scripture are neither denied nor 
affirmed; they are ignored. But little matter, for the objective now is 
not to be true to the written Word of God, but to see to it that the 
Church is "strong" and commands the world's respect.

Ecumenism, sad to say, has made significant inroads among evangelical 
believers too. All too seldom do men of God stand up to defend by the 
Scriptures the truths they believe and proclaim. Theological debate has 
given place to the dialogue, in which two individuals or groups sit down 
together to discuss their differences and see if there is not some basis 
for agreement. This appears generous and objective but too often 
convictions are compromised and the truth watered down by such 
undertakings, with the result that the Spirit's power is sacrificed for 
numerical strength.

No man of God can speak in the power of the Spirit when he places 
anything before the Word and Will of God. Nor can the Church ever be 
truly united and strong unless she puts God's Word and Will first and 
takes her place in the world as Christ's embassy on alien territory (See 
II Cor.5:20).

Hi Paris, attached is my latest, and most likely, last moment of 
addressing members of the Church, the Body of Christ. It has
become an interesting experience to observe how fellow-saints in Christ 
Jesus, are becoming more lackadaisical, and seem to care less about 
their "real" relationship with God, through our fellowship with His 
Son. They seemed to be more interested in their "church, " rather than 
The Church, and the time within their "denomination, " rather that 
holding onto the ONENESS of the Spirit. (But you already knew that).
Love and Agape to you and The Church of God, The Body of Christ.
Rick

*"YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY" *
*DANIEL 3:28B, ROMANS 6:13,16,19; 12:1*

Several avenues in our city have signs located at their 
intersections which read: 'YIELD THE RIGHT OF WAY.' This means that we 
must slow down as we approach the intersection, and give the cars which 
are coming at right angles to us first place. Failure to observe this 
command may bring tragic results!

This is God's demand upon every individual whom He has been 
pleased to save. It is plainly this: 'YIELD YOURSELVES UNTO 
GOD......PRESENT YOUR BODIES...... . UNTO GOD.' What does this involve? 
Simply this: because God has graciously saved me through the death and 
resurrection of His beloved Son, and because by His Spirit He has 
brought me into an eternal union with Christ, and because I am no more 
my own, I repudiate all known sins in my life and deny the right to old 
self to be king any longer within me, and I yield my entire self with my 
body and its several members unto this loving Father as a 'living 
sacrifice.&# 39; This is a definite, once-for-all transaction, as the tense 
of the words 'yield&# 39; and 'present&# 39; indicate. Just as I definitely 
received Christ into my life as Savior and Lord once for all, so I am 
now just as definitely to yield or present myself to God for His own use 
and glory.

Suppose I were to give you a check from our checkbook, and then 
tell you, 'Just fill in any amount you wish; I have signed my name 
already to it!' Knowing that I had informed you that I had unlimited 
financial resources, you would be free to write in any amount you felt 
you needed.

Likewise intelligently and lovingly turn your entire being and 
life over to the God who loves you far more than you'll ever understand, 
and say, 'Lord, here I am; body, soul, and spirit; mind, emotions, will; 
eyes, ears, lips, hands, and feet; weaknesses, frailties, habits, sins, 
problems, circumstances, finances; take me just as I am; do what You 
will both in me and through me; and cause me ever to cleave with purpose 
of heart unto you until either death or 'the catching away'!&# 39;

And God will never turn down an offer like that! Do it meaningfully today!
Grace, Peace and Love,
Pastor P. Hume

*MERCY AND GRACE TO THE “CHIEF” OF SINNERS*
* by Russell S. Miller*

When the world was ripe for the judgment of God to fall, indeed now 
seems overripe and long overdue, the Lord Jesus Christ reached down in 
mercy and grace to save “the chief of sinners,” as Paul later calls 
himself in I Timothy 1:15.

In saving Saul of Tarsus, God has “shewed forth all longsuffering”to 
this lost and dying world. Consequently, the Lord’s words to Ananias 
concerned Paul’s conversion, his apostleship and commission, and also 
speaks of God’s grace to us all when the very next prophesied event was 
the judgment of God. Contrary to the Great Commission, then, Acts 9:1-6 
marks a new beginning as to the administration of God in the affairs of 
men today:

“…for [Paul] is a chosen vessel unto Me, to bear My name before the 
Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how 
great things he must suffer for My name’s sake” (Acts 9:15,16).

Notice that the order of Paul’s commission is the reverse of that given 
to the Twelve! Saul of Tarsus, the one who had persecuted the followers 
of Jesus Christ, is specially “chosen” of God through whom “God’s Son” 
is to be revealed to “all nations.” Since the favored nation had 
rejected Messiah and refused“the Kingdom of Heaven” on earth under their 
so-called “Great Commission,” God sent forth the Apostle Paul to all 
nations with a new message and ministry, “to testify the Gospel of the 
Grace of God” (Acts 20:24), from the moment of his conversion.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that He 
counted me faithful, PUTTING ME INTO THE MINISTRY; who was before a 
blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, 
because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.

“AND THE GRACE OF OUR LORD WAS EXCEEDING ABUNDANT WITH FAITH AND LOVE 
WHICH IS IN CHRIST JESUS.

“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.

“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ 
might shew forth all longsuffering, FOR A PATTERN TO THEM WHICH SHOULD 
HEREAFTER believe on Him to life everlasting” (ITim.1:12-16) .

Have you accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour? He will make a 
real difference in your life, if you will just ask Him to save you. 
Won’t you do it today?

*Be much with the solid teachings of God's word,*
* and you will become solid and substantial men and women: *
*drink them in,*
* and feed upon them, *
*and they shall produce in you a Christ-likeness, *
* at which the world shall stand astonished.*
* C. H. Spurgeon*

*GRACE *
*By RALPH F. BALOG. *

*Scripture Reading: James 4:6 *
*
The Hebrews to whom James wrote must have been stunned to find our text 
verse sandwiched between verses showing the demands of the law being 
imposed upon them. James 4:1-5 are a stinging rebuke to adulterers and 
adulteresses. Then verses 7-17 are legalistic orders; none of the 
"beseeching&qu ot; Pauline kind.

But God can and does bring His glorious attributes into any age at His 
good pleasure. "God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the 
humble." The world embraces the proud and shuns the humble. God does the 
opposite. Body members learn in Eph. 4:7: "But unto everyone of us is 
given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ."

In James 4:6 grace was given by God to those under law as He saw fit. In 
the Pauline dispensation of grace (Acts 20:24) the basis of all God does 
is in grace. There is no "lurking law" to condemn Christians when they 
sin. In grace they have already been forgiven (Eph. 4:32)! Nowhere but 
in Paul's epistles do we find this glorious truth. No "short account" 
prayers to keep being forgiven. We are to quit the sin and get on with 
Christian living under grace. Some Christians do not fully understand 
grace and have a guilty feeling hanging over their heads as they go 
through life wondering if they are "confessed up".

James never writes about grace, but Titus does. Read these thrilling 
words: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to 
all men, Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we 
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world" 
(Titus 2:11-12). Grace seen and practiced as commanded by Paul will 
cause us to live godly lives to please the One who loved us and gave 
Himself for us. Grace does not tolerate sin when properly understood. 
Man has had enough of law and should know weak flesh can't keep it.

*Heavenly Father, we are awe struck at the vast dimensions of Your grace.*
* Forgive us for underestimating that grace so often.*
* Enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know the richness of 
Your grace.*
* May the immeasurable ocean of Your grace be our daily supply for life 
in Christ, *
*in His name we pray, Amen.*

*GALATIANS 5:1----- TO THE FREEDOM*
*By **John Walker

As I was teaching through Galatians, in 5:1 Paul writes, "Christ freed 
us for or to the freedom. Therefore stand and do not be held in again by 
a yoke of slavery." As I thought about this verse, most people look at 
this verse, and rightly so, from the perspective of what we are freed from.

In the context, I think we can confidently say that the "yoke of 
slavery" is the Mosaic Law. Christ has freed us from the Law. In 
Galatians, Paul has been proving the ineffectiveness of the Law with 
respect to justification, or being declared innocent, or right, before 
God. In 3:10 Paul writes, "For as many as are out of the works of the 
Law, they are under a curse. For it has been written that Very cursed is 
everyone who does not remain in all the things having been written in 
the book of the Law unto the end to do them."

Then Paul continues by telling us that Christ became a curse to redeem 
us out of the curse of the Law (vs. 13). The purpose of this is so that 
the gentiles may share in the blessing of Abraham and receive the 
promise of the Spirit. Ultimately, this leads us back to 5:1 where 
Christ's death on a tree results in our freedom from the Law.

Our U.S. Supreme Court, in its infinite wisdom, has ruled that freedom 
of religion also means freedom from religion. By doing so, it has 
reduced the freedom of others to practice their faith so some may be 
free from the religion of others. It is hard for me to believe that this 
was the intent of the framers of the constitution. As many of the 
original settlers came from religious persecution to practice their 
faith unhindered, the framers wanted to insure this freedom to continue 
into the future. The freedom was for Americans to freely live their faith.

Likewise, I believe the freedom that God has freed us for is not only 
freedom from the Law, but also freedom to do something else. Most 
translations translate the phrase, (Tjj eleutheria,) "for freedom." A 
literal translation is "to the freedom." Again, freedom for what?

As we continue in the text, I believe it is the freedom to serve one 
another through love (vs. 13) and to walk by the Spirit (vs. 16 & 25). 
Before Christ's death, we are dead in our trespasses and sins (Eph. 
2:1). Now that we are alive in Christ (Eph. 2:5), God has given the 
ability, or freedom, to walk in the good works which He has previously 
prepared for us to walk in them (Eph. 2:10).

In 1 Thess. 1:9-10, Paul recounts "... how you turned towards the God 
from the idols to serve the living and true God and to await His son out 
of heaven ... " In this instance, they are saved to serve. As they 
turned to God, He freed them to serve Him.

Our freedom is not an occasion or opportunity for the flesh (Gal. 5:13), 
but an opportunity to serve Him by serving one another through love, to 
do the good works He has prepared, and to be led by the Spirit (Gal. 
5:18). Our freedom is to do His bidding and follow His will for us and 
to do it in the way He wants us to do it, through love.

So often I think of my freedom as to what things I no longer have to do, 
or follow, such as the Law. What I should be doing is concentrating on 
what God wants me to do as He has freed me to do it. I can be rejoicing 
that I am doing it not because I have to do it, but because I want to do 
it out of thankfulness and gratitude for what He has accomplished for me 
in His Son, Jesus Christ.

May this year be one of serving one another through love and following 
the leading of the Spirit because God has freed us to do so.

In Christ's Service

*DON’T TRY TO CHANGE – EXCHANGE FOR A NEW FREEDOM IN CHRIST*
* As we mature more and more in the Lord,*
* we often become convicted of things that just are not right in our lives.*
* This is normal;*
* in fact it’s healthy and a good indicator*
* that we are coming into a deeper maturity. *
*Thanks Doug*

RELIGIOUS MIXTURES
 by C. R. Stam

The largest segment of the professing Church offers her devotees neither peace for the present, nor assurance for the future. She does not tell them that believers in Christ are given a position in heaven at God's right hand (Eph.2:4-7). She even brings Christ down from His exalted position and offers Him to the world on a crucifix, requiring men to eat His flesh and drink His blood to be saved. And this when Paul, by the Spirit, so emphatically says:

"...yea, THOUGH WE HAVE KNOWN CHRIST AFTER THE FLESH, YET NOW, HENCE-
FORTH, KNOW WE HIM NO MORE" (II Cor.5:16).

Man's religion, especially in "the Church," is built upon an appeal to the senses. Her devotees are occupied with beads and bells, statues and crucifixes, candlesticks and sacred objects, robes and incense; so far has she departed from the teachings of Paul and from his declaration that "we walk by faith, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7).

Lingering still among the types and shadows of primitive ages and mingling these with meaningless pagan rituals, she keeps millions from trusting and rejoicing in an already accomplished redemption.

We beg those who read these lines to look in faith to the risen, exalted Christ and to trust in His finished work:

"Who... when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3).

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

This is clear enough. Our Lord came to earth to accomplish our redemption and, having accomplished it, He returned to heaven and sat down with His Father. The work was finished. And now He invites us to rest in His finished work.

"THERE REMAINETH THEREFORE A REST TO THE PEOPLE OF GOD."

"FOR HE THAT HATH ENTERED INTO HIS REST, HE ALSO HATH CEASED FROM HIS OWN WORKS, AS GOD DID FROM HIS" (Heb.4:9,10).
THOUGHT TO PONDER

Religion is detrimental to your well-being! Religion is false! Religion is the reason why many unbelievers refuse God and Christ! Religion is dead!  Religion is Satan’s buddy!  Religion is destroying the faith of  many!  Religion was NAILED TO THE CROSS, AND THE ENMITY THEREOF! We who have trusted Christ are a New Creation which God did, and He placed us into the Body of Christ.Therefore, it is the responsibility of each and every member of the Body of Christ to be a good soldier, and TO PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOUR OF GOD, THAT  YE MAY BE ABLE TO WITHSTAND IN THE EVIL DAY, AND HAVING DONE ALL, TO STAND!  (Eph. 6:13

***POWER AT HIS COMING*
*By **Don Weffald,*

Read Mark 13:24-26

"And then shall they see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great 
power and glory" (Mark 13:26)

In this passage Christ is speaking of His return in glory to set up His 
kingdom on the earth. This is the coming that the Hebrew prophets spoke 
of (Isaiah 11; Jeremiah 23; Ezekiel 37). From our standpoint it is the 
"second coming" for the prophets in their prophecies included the Lord's 
coming as a babe (Isaiah 7:14; Micah 5:2; Matthew 1:22-23; 2:5-6). He 
will be coming as the "Son of Man." That is His title of heavenly glory 
(Daniel 7:13; John 3:13). This coming must not be confused with the 
coming of Christ for His Church which is His Body. That coming was not 
spoken of by the Hebrew prophets and is part of "the mystery" revealed 
to and through Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (1 Cor. 15:51; Eph.3:1-9).

Christ's coming to earth to set up His kingdom will be with a 
demonstration of "great power." here is the Greek dunamis, which 
indicates God's inherent power. It will be that power that will regather 
Israel (Deu. 30:3; Jer 23:3) and judge the nations (Psalms 96:13; 
Matthew 4:29-25:46). And it is His power that will subdue His enemies 
(Psalms 110:1; 1 Cor. 15:25). In addition there will be events in nature 
that will herald His appearing, such as the darkening of the sun and 
moon, the falling of stars and the shaking of the powers of heaven (Mark 
13:24-25).

Meanwhile the Body of Christ His Church, awaits "our gathering together 
unto Him," i.e. the Rapture ( 2 Thess. 2:1; 1 Thess 4:13-18).

~FIT FIRST~
By M. Stanford

"And the servant of the Lord must not strive" (II Tim. 2:24).

Our one responsibility, that of concentrating upon the Lord Jesus, has a 
threefold result: (1 ) fellowship with Him; (2) growth in His image; (3) 
ministry of life to others.

"The love of the Lord culminates in this, that we should be with Him. He 
died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with 
Him (I Thess. 5:10). I find the one who is set on usefulness (Martha) 
does not advance like the one set on personal affection to Him (Mary). 
The Lord give us to be more personally attached to Himself; then we 
shall be useful according to His good pleasure."

"There is one thing that all can do--- be 'meet for the Master's use' 
(II Tim. 2:21); and this is the secret of usefulness. Usefulness is not 
activity; it is not merely being used, but it is fitness, cleanness, 
preparedness, and separation of heart, singleness of eye, the affections 
set on things above - all, in fact, that proceeds from the judgment and 
denial of self, and the manifestation of Christ in the life by faith."

"All my ability to act for the Lord Jesus here depends on my conscious 
identification with Him where He is, not where He was for me; though as 
I receive power from Him I walk here even as He walked; His life is 
manifested in me.---J.B.S.

"But be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient" (II Tim. 2:24).

PAUL'S PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY *
*Part 1 of 2*
*TITUS 1:1-3 *
*by James R. Gray *

Paul's letter to Titus is not just a personal letter, but a pastoral 
letter. It was written to a close associate of the Apostle. Titus was a 
Greek (Galatians 2:3), who experienced on the job training with Paul and 
Barnabas (II Corinthians 8:23). One of like spirit or attitude (2 
Corinthians 12:18). He was now the personal envoy of the Apostle to 
Crete (Titus 1:5) to edify the saints, and organize the local church.

The Apostle Paul opens the Epistle with the standard form of greeting, 
giving the author, the recipients, and the blessing (1:1-4). In doing 
so, however, Paul gives one of his longest greetings (65 words, 
surpassed only by the greetings in Galatians and Romans). In this 
greeting, Paul gives his philosophy of ministry.

THE ATTITUDE OF MINISTRY (Titus 1:1).
Paul refers to himself as "a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus 
Christ." This designates his two-fold position. But these titles also 
denote not only Paul's position, but his attitude of ministry.

* HUMILITY.

Paul was a "servant of God." The word servant is the Greek word doulos, 
meaning bond servant or slave. Wuest tells us the word "refers to one 
whose will is swallowed up in the will of another; ... to one who serves 
another to the disregard of his own interests" (The Pastoral Epistles, 
181). The prepositional phrase "of God" designates who's will swallows 
up Paul. Paul was what he was, not by his own will, nor the will of man, 
but the will of God (Galatians 1:1). God is his master. He is a servant 
of God! A title held by Moses (Joshua 1:2), Joshua (24:29), and the 
prophets (Jeremiah 7:25, Amos 3:7).

This title reflects an attitude of ministry. Ministry is that of service 
to our master. Christ himself displayed this attitude. He took upon 
himself "the form of a bond-servant" (Philippians 2:7). Paul implores us 
to have the same attitude or mind (Philippians 2:5). It is the attitude 
of humility.

A philosophy of ministry begins with the attitude of humility. Paul 
served God "with all humility of mind" (Acts 20:19). The Greek word is 
tapeinophrosune. He calls upon us to "walk worthy of the vocation 
wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness" or humility of mind 
(Ephesians 4:1-2). We are to put it on as God's elect (Colossians 3:12). 
True ministry begins with the attitude of humility.

* AUTHORITY.

Paul was not only a servant, but an "apostle" . The word means one sent 
forth, commissioned to do a task. It has the idea of one sent with 
authority to command. Buhner notes that the word "denotes commissioning 
and authorization from God" (Exegetical Dictionary of the NT, 1:142). 
Paul was commissioned and given the authority to be the apostle to the 
Gentiles (Romans 11:13). As such, Paul was willing to stand in such 
authority, even in opposition of other apostles (Galatians 2:11 ff). 
This authority came not within his own pride or ego, but because of the 
position conferred upon him by the Lord Jesus Christ. He spoke from the 
authority of Christ that was granted him to do the task for which He was 
called.

A philosophy of ministry must include the concept of authority. No 
matter what ministry God gives to believers, with each ministry comes 
authority to serve in that area. The degree of authority may vary 
depending upon the ministry, but it is there never-the-Iess. Where ever 
God sends or calls, he grants authority, as well as the ability to carry 
out that commission.

Notice the order: it is humility then authority. To often we want to 
reverse this order. To minister primarily out of authority over humility 
leads to pride. Pride is deadly in ministry, perverting it to 
selfishness. Authority in ministry should always be exercised in the 
spirit of, and controlled by, humility.

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

PAUL'S PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY *
*Part 2 of 2*
*TITUS 1:1-3 *
*by James R. Gray THE AIM OF MINISTRY __ (Titus 1:1bl:

After giving his position, Paul states that this was "according to the 
faith of God's elect." What does that mean? It seems to indicate that 
Paul's position is dependent upon the faith of God's people, as to be 
regulated by it. We know from Scripture that is not the case (see 
Galatians 1:1,11-12, 15-17). Paul's position came directly from the 
Lord, and was not of man, nor dependent upon man.

The word translated "according&quo t; is the Greek word kata, and found in the 
accusative case. This is taken by Bible students in one of two ways: 
First, many take it to mean the standard of Paul's ministry, and is 
reflected in the translation of the KJV. This view takes it to mean "in 
accord with or in harmony with the faith which God's elect possess" 
(Homer Kent Jr, THE PASTORAL EPISTLES, 216). While it is true this may 
be the natural meaning, they recognized that it can be taken in the 
sense of purpose or goal. However, their objection to it is on the basis 
that this preposition is used four time here, and that this "rendering 
cannot be given to all four occurrences" (D. Edmond Hiebert, "Titus, " 
THE EXPOSITOR' S BIBLE COMMENTARY, 11:426).

The problem is that this view must see the faith of the elect as some 
form of regulation. It may be denied by some (Hiebert, 11:426), but it 
is clearly the case. Kent openly confirms it. He writes:

Paul's ministry could be measured by this yardstick. Believers are 
responsible to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). Paul could be tested by 
comparing his preaching and teaching with the doctrine which the 
believers held (p. 216).

Second is the view that takes the preposition in the sense of purpose of 
goal. That the preposition kata "expresses the aim of Paul's 
apostleship, and not the standard" (A.T. Robertson, WORD PICTURES, 
4:597). Those who hold this view would translate the preposition as 
"for" as does the NASV, or "in the interest of" as Hendriksen does (NTC: 
I-II TIMOTHY AND TITUS, 340). We prefer this view because it is 
exegetical sound, and fits well the context of the Epistle. And it does 
away with the problem of regulation based upon the faith of God's people.

This being the case, Paul's philosophy of ministry sees the aim of 
ministry as:

* FAITH.

Faith here is not objective in the sense of "the faith" (doctrine, or 
body of truth). There is no article in the Greek. It is the personal 
faith which starts with salvation and grows with edification. The aim of 
service or ministry is to promote and further the salvation and 
edification of God's people (Romans 1:5). This is done both by 
evangelism and edification.

* KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.

The word "acknowledging " is the Greek word epignosis, meaning a full or 
thorough knowledge. The aim of ministry is to bring people to fully 
acknowledge the truth. Again this is done both by salvation and 
edification. To acknowledge this truth "which is after godliness." 
Salvation and edification is to lead to godliness. Ministry is not to 
center only upon mind (intellectualism) , but truth that changes lives. 
To conform and transform us to the image of Christ. Ministry which 
professes to convey truth, but does not promote godliness is a 
artificial ministry. A true philosophy of ministry must have as it's 
aim: faith, knowledge, and godliness.

* MOTIVATION OF MINISTRY (Titus 1:2-3):

"In the hope of eternal life." The connective "in" is the Greek word 
epi. It means "resting upon" or "on the basis of." To what does it 
refer? Some take it to refer back to Paul's apostleship. While this is 
true, it seems to limiting. It is better to take it as modifying the 
entire subject of the first verse. The attitude and aim of ministry 
rests upon hope, the hope of eternal life. "The faith and the knowledge 
spoken of have as their basis of action, or energy, the hope of eternal 
life" (THE EXPOSITOR' S GREEK TESTAMENT, 4:185).

Paul certainly sees hope as a vital and important aspect of his 
philosophy of ministry. It is the motivating basis of ministry. Paul 
says he toils and strives in ministry "because we have fixed our hope on 
the living God" (1 Timothy 4:10, NASV; also see 2 Timothy 1:12). He uses 
the hope set before us as a motivating factor in our lives as well (1 
Corinthians 15:58, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 2:12, 1 Timothy 4:7-8).

It must be noted that Paul is not saying that we minister in order to 
obtain the hope of eternal life. We are saved by grace apart from works 
(Ephesians 2:8-9). Both eternal life and hope are our possession here 
and now (Ephesians 4:4, Colossians 1:5, 27, Titus 3:7). However, this 
hope will not be fully realized until eternity. Hope is a present 
possession waiting for future realization. Thus, we minister because of 
the possession of the hope of eternal life. This hope energizes us to 
service.

This hope, Paul goes on to say, was promised, manifested, and committed 
(Titus 1:3). It was promised by a God who cannot lie. Manifested in the 
preaching of the Word. And committed to him by God's command.

Paul's philosophy of ministry is clearly revealed in this greeting to 
Titus. However, it is important to realize that this philosophy of 
ministry is not simply for the "professional& quot; servant (pastors, 
evangelist, missionaries, etc). It is one that should be a part of 
everyone' s philosophy of ministry. No matter how or where you serve God, 
you should exhibit the attitude of humility with authority, aim at 
evangelism and edification, and be motivated by the hope that is within 
you.

*May we be found faithful in prayer, faithful in reading the Bible, and*
*faithful in sharing our faith with others.*

*PAUL'S PHILOSOPHY OF MINISTRY *
*Part 2 of 2*
*TITUS 1:1-3 *
*by James R. Gray *

*

*THE AIM OF MINISTRY __ (Titus 1:1bl:

After giving his position, Paul states that this was "according to the 
faith of God's elect." What does that mean? It seems to indicate that 
Paul's position is dependent upon the faith of God's people, as to be 
regulated by it. We know from Scripture that is not the case (see 
Galatians 1:1,11-12, 15-17). Paul's position came directly from the 
Lord, and was not of man, nor dependent upon man.

The word translated "according&quo t; is the Greek word kata, and found in the 
accusative case. This is taken by Bible students in one of two ways: 
First, many take it to mean the standard of Paul's ministry, and is 
reflected in the translation of the KJV. This view takes it to mean "in 
accord with or in harmony with the faith which God's elect possess" 
(Homer Kent Jr, THE PASTORAL EPISTLES, 216). While it is true this may 
be the natural meaning, they recognized that it can be taken in the 
sense of purpose or goal. However, their objection to it is on the basis 
that this preposition is used four time here, and that this "rendering 
cannot be given to all four occurrences" (D. Edmond Hiebert, "Titus, " 
THE EXPOSITOR' S BIBLE COMMENTARY, 11:426).

The problem is that this view must see the faith of the elect as some 
form of regulation. It may be denied by some (Hiebert, 11:426), but it 
is clearly the case. Kent openly confirms it. He writes:

Paul's ministry could be measured by this yardstick. Believers are 
responsible to test the spirits (1 John 4:1). Paul could be tested by 
comparing his preaching and teaching with the doctrine which the 
believers held (p. 216).

Second is the view that takes the preposition in the sense of purpose of 
goal. That the preposition kata "expresses the aim of Paul's 
apostleship, and not the standard" (A.T. Robertson, WORD PICTURES, 
4:597). Those who hold this view would translate the preposition as 
"for" as does the NASV, or "in the interest of" as Hendriksen does (NTC: 
I-II TIMOTHY AND TITUS, 340). We prefer this view because it is 
exegetical sound, and fits well the context of the Epistle. And it does 
away with the problem of regulation based upon the faith of God's people.

This being the case, Paul's philosophy of ministry sees the aim of 
ministry as:

* FAITH.

Faith here is not objective in the sense of "the faith" (doctrine, or 
body of truth). There is no article in the Greek. It is the personal 
faith which starts with salvation and grows with edification. The aim of 
service or ministry is to promote and further the salvation and 
edification of God's people (Romans 1:5). This is done both by 
evangelism and edification.

* KNOWLEDGE OF THE TRUTH.

The word "acknowledging " is the Greek word epignosis, meaning a full or 
thorough knowledge. The aim of ministry is to bring people to fully 
acknowledge the truth. Again this is done both by salvation and 
edification. To acknowledge this truth "which is after godliness." 
Salvation and edification is to lead to godliness. Ministry is not to 
center only upon mind (intellectualism) , but truth that changes lives. 
To conform and transform us to the image of Christ. Ministry which 
professes to convey truth, but does not promote godliness is a 
artificial ministry. A true philosophy of ministry must have as it's 
aim: faith, knowledge, and godliness.

* MOTIVATION OF MINISTRY (Titus 1:2-3):

"In the hope of eternal life." The connective "in" is the Greek word 
epi. It means "resting upon" or "on the basis of." To what does it 
refer? Some take it to refer back to Paul's apostleship. While this is 
true, it seems to limiting. It is better to take it as modifying the 
entire subject of the first verse. The attitude and aim of ministry 
rests upon hope, the hope of eternal life. "The faith and the knowledge 
spoken of have as their basis of action, or energy, the hope of eternal 
life" (THE EXPOSITOR' S GREEK TESTAMENT, 4:185).

Paul certainly sees hope as a vital and important aspect of his 
philosophy of ministry. It is the motivating basis of ministry. Paul 
says he toils and strives in ministry "because we have fixed our hope on 
the living God" (1 Timothy 4:10, NASV; also see 2 Timothy 1:12). He uses 
the hope set before us as a motivating factor in our lives as well (1 
Corinthians 15:58, 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10, 2:12, 1 Timothy 4:7-8).

It must be noted that Paul is not saying that we minister in order to 
obtain the hope of eternal life. We are saved by grace apart from works 
(Ephesians 2:8-9). Both eternal life and hope are our possession here 
and now (Ephesians 4:4, Colossians 1:5, 27, Titus 3:7). However, this 
hope will not be fully realized until eternity. Hope is a present 
possession waiting for future realization. Thus, we minister because of 
the possession of the hope of eternal life. This hope energizes us to 
service.

This hope, Paul goes on to say, was promised, manifested, and committed 
(Titus 1:3). It was promised by a God who cannot lie. Manifested in the 
preaching of the Word. And committed to him by God's command.

Paul's philosophy of ministry is clearly revealed in this greeting to 
Titus. However, it is important to realize that this philosophy of 
ministry is not simply for the "professional& quot; servant (pastors, 
evangelist, missionaries, etc). It is one that should be a part of 
everyone' s philosophy of ministry. No matter how or where you serve God, 
you should exhibit the attitude of humility with authority, aim at 
evangelism and edification, and be motivated by the hope that is within 
you.

*May we be found faithful in prayer, faithful in reading the Bible, and*
*faithful in sharing our faith with others.*

*POPULARIZING THE GOSPEL *
*By late Pastor Win Johnson*
*

Dr. Vance Havner, one of the most lucid and interesting preachers this 
pastor has ever heard, wrote in one of his recent books a paragraph on 
modern-day evangelism. Commenting on the fact that it isn't necessary 
for a popular singer to have any musical ability or be able to sing in 
order to sell a million records, he continues by saying: "This has 
gotten over into the world of religion. Worship has become a performance 
instead of an experience. The notion has spread somehow, that the gospel 
must be made into a form of entertainment. Some have discovered that a 
fortune can be made out of religious jazz. Sacred themes have been 
prostituted into hillbilly ragtime, and the same performers who turn out 
sexy ads also produce sacred albums. Athletic and theatrical prowess 
draw out crowds who would never go to hear a mere preacher, and 
evangelists may have to add sideburns, medallions and a git-tar to 
guarantee a congregation. The churches even in dignified circles, are 
working out a coalition with the world to popularize the gospel."

TO WHICH WE ADD: Recently a radio preacher said that the church is 
getting so worldly and the world is getting so churchy that you can't 
tell them apart. He was speaking of course, of visible local church 
organizations. Thank God, the true Church, the Body of Christ, though IN 
the world, is not OF the world. Genuine believers desire to obey the 
Scriptural commands, "Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of 
darkness but rather reprove them" (Ephesians 5:11), "Be not conformed to 
this world (age) but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that 
ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" 
(Romans 12:2).

If our preaching is popular with the world it is not the gospel which 
proclaims the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ 
for hell-deserving sinners.

*"Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. *
*We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. *
*It must be fought for, protected,*
* and handed on for them to do the same." - Pres.Reagan*

LABOR OF LOVE
By Dick Johnson, Bible Teacher

"But God commendeth His love toward us in that, while we were yet 
sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). God does not merely say that 
He loves His people, He demonstrates it. By His love God delivered 
Israel out of Egypt, He sent prophets to teach and lead Israel, He sent 
His Son to die for us, and He sent His Holy Spirit first to demonstrate 
the power of God to Israel and then to indwell us and seal us in Christ.

And then there is the love of Christ. Who shall separate us from the 
love of Christ (Romans 8:35)? It was our Lord Jesus Christ who died and 
rose again on our behalf, who knew no sin but became sin for us, who 
paid the ultimate price of spiritual death and who rose victoriously 
over sin and death to be the Head of all things, in particular the 
Church which is His Body (2 Corinthians 5:15, 21); Romans 6:10,23; 
Ephesians 4:9; 1 Cor. 15:54-57; Ephesians 1:20-23). Yes, the love of 
Christ has been and continues to be demonstrated toward us.

How about Paul, the apostle of grace and our example of how we ought to 
conduct our lives as believers? He was chosen by the grace of God and 
instructed by our glorified Lord. God changed him from being His enemy 
and Satan's advocate to being the dispenser of the gospel of grace and a 
soldier of Christ (1Timothy 1:12-16). As a result of his faithful labor 
of love, Paul suffered horrible beatings, imprisonment and, finally, 
death. Through it all, Paul knew the joy of God and thanked Him for the 
work of love of his fellow saints (Philippians 3:7-11; 1Thess. 1:3; 
Colossians 1 :4).

As we follow Paul, our example of how to walk, and Christ, our example 
of God's perfect love,we ought to do all things in love (1 Corinthians 
11:1;16:14).

Our Purpose and Mission

The ministry of "Grace and The Truth" has the purpose of encouraging 
Christians to believe what God says.

Message "CHRIST" Rom. 16:25, Col. 1:28
Material "All Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16, 17
Method "Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth, 2 Tim. 2:15
Mission "To Make All See" Eph. 3:9

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by 
the blood of Christ." Eph.2:13.

We are dedicated to helping Christians to a fuller knowledge of Him, and 
the Grace of God. Until we all come into the Unity, Ephesians 4:13 "Till 
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son 
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the 
fullness of Christ:"

We are wiling to help you on this journey just give us a call, 1 623546 
8866, Paris

Would you like to help this ministry? Consider trying to get one other 
person to subscribe to the GRACE DAILY INSPIRATIONAL. This worldwide 
ministry asks for no funds and is sent to glorify our precious Lord and 
Savior, Jesus Christ, AND TO HELP YOU TO GROW IN GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE.

GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET
WEB SITE
Grace And The Truth
www.graceandthetruth.com

~THE TRUTH~
by C. R. Stam

The Bible is unique among books as Christ was among men, in that it is 
the only book that claims repeatedly and consistently to be the truth.

It begins with the majestic words: "In the beginning God created the 
heaven and the earth." It does not argue the case; it simply states it. 
The sacramental introduction to the prophecies is: "Thus saith the 
Lord," and a hundred fulfilled prophecies prove that the Bible is indeed 
the Word of God --- the truth.

Without apology it refers to:

The "manifestation of the truth" (IICor.4:2).
The "knowledge of the truth" (IITim.3:7).
Those who "have erred concerning the truth" (II Tim.2:18).
Those who "resist the truth" (IITim.3:8).
Those who "hold [hold down, suppress] the truth in unrighteousness&quo t; 
(Rom.1: 18).
Those who "turn away their ears from the truth" (IITim.4:4).
Those who "believe and know the truth" (ITim.4:3).
Those who "acknowledge the truth" (Tit.1:1).
Our Lord said to His Father: "Thy Word is truth" (John 17:17).
Paul wrote to those who were saved when they "heard the word of truth, 
the gospel of [their] salvation" (Eph.1:13).

Where the truth is concerned God's Word is all we need, for:

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for 
doctrine, for reproof, for correction in righteousness;

"That the man of God may be perfect [complete], THOROUGHLY FURNISHED 
unto all good works" (II Tim.3:16,17) .

Our Purpose and Mission

The ministry of "Grace and The Truth" has the purpose of encouraging 
Christians to believe what God says.

Message "CHRIST" Rom. 16:25, Col. 1:28
Material "All Scripture, 2 Tim. 3:16, 17
Method "Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth, 2 Tim. 2:15
Mission "To Make All See" Eph. 3:9

"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh 
bythe blood of Christ." Eph.2:13.

We are dedicated to helping Christians to a fuller knowledge of Him,and 
the Grace of God. Until we all come into the Unity, Ephesians 4:13 "Till 
we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son 
of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the 
fullness of Christ:"

We are wiling to help you on this journey just give us a call, 1 623 
546 8866, Paris

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

* THE PRECIOUSNESS OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY*
* Scripture Reading: Isa. 40:12-31; Rom. 11:33-12:3 *
*
Oftentimes we hear people make the remark: "The first part of such and 
such an Epistle is the doctrinal section, and the last part is the 
practical section." Yes, many of Paul's Epistles are so constructed 
(take Romans and Ephesians as examples) But this statement implies that 
doctrine is not practical! Such is certainly not the case, at least 
where the Word of God is concerned! All Scripture is doctrine in the 
true sense of the word. Doctrine means "teaching. " All true doctrine, or 
teaching from the Scriptures IS practical!

This appertains to this blessed doctrine concerning the Person of God 
(including each member of the blessed Godhead). We have sought to lay 
emphasis on the sovereignty of God. Indeed it is precious to those who 
are able to "bear" it (John 16:13). Why?

"The doctrine of God's sovereignty then is no mere metaphysical dogma 
which is devoid of practical value, but is one that is calculated to 
produce a powerful effect upon Christian character and the daily walk. 
The doctrine of God's sovereignty lies at the foundation of Christian 
theology, and in importance is perhaps second only to the Divine 
Inspiration of the Scriptures. It is the center of gravity in the system 
of Christian truth--the sun around which all the lesser orbs are 
grouped. It is the golden milestone to which every highway of knowledge 
leads and from which they all radiate. It is the cord upon which all 
other doctrines are strung like so many pearls holding them in place, 
and giving them unity. It is the plumbline by which every creed needs to 
be measured, the balance in which every human dogma must be weighed. It 
is designed as the sheet-anchor for our souls amid the storms of life." 
(A. W. Pink)

Once we come to realize the sovereignty of God, the Holy Spirit will 
cause us to bow low before our blessed Savior-God and not only confess 
"My God, how great thou art!" but also say, "Take my life, and let it 
be, consecrated, LORD TO THEE!" Amen!

By Unknown
*If Jesus is at the core of our*
* existence, that gives us an *
*identity much greater than *
*most Christians acknowledge!

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*