GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET~OUR ASSURANCES UNDER GRACE

* PARDON vs. JUSTIFICATION*
* by C. R. Stam***
Did you read, recently, about the man, named Zimmerman, who spent nearly 
twenty-five years in prison for a murder which, it is now clear, he 
never committed! The mistake was discovered two years ago, and he was 
released, of course, but only after spending almost a quarter of a 
century in prison for a crime he did not commit!

This was a grim mistake, but even at that, it must be wonderful in such 
a case, to be free -- and to have people actually sympathize with you! 
Yet, after two years of liberty, Zimmerman says he still feels a bit 
numb. Waking up mornings he still imagines he hears the harsh sound of 
the prison bell, and looking about he still thinks he sees bars on the 
windows.

Things could be worse, though: Suppose he were guilty of the crime, 
merely pardoned and released. Then everyone would be saying: "There goes 
that murderer. They pardoned him. Don't get too friendly with him." The 
stigma would always remain - -as long as he lived.

Let us thank God that believers in Christ are not merely pardoned. Rom. 
3:24 declares that we are "justified freely by [God's] grace, through 
the redemption that is in Christ Jesus." Christ died for our sins and 
satisfied the just claims of the Law, and more: through the Holy Spirit 
He revolutionizes our lives and makes new creations out of us, for "If 
any man be in Christ," says II Cor. 5:17, "he is a new creation."

"For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; 
it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast. For we 
are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God 
hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).

* Just Think you are here,*
* Not by chance but by God's choosing.*
* His hand formed you*
* And made you the person you are.*
* He compares you to no one else - you are one of a kind.*
* You lack nothing that His grace can't give you.*
* He has allowed you to be here at this time in history*
* To fulfill His special purpose for this generation.*
* Ephesians 1:4*

Dear Lord, I thank You and praise You for Your great grace toward me. 
Just to think that You chose me before the foundation of the world, and 
are so gracious even beyond that to allow me to walk in the good works 
that You did on the cross, Your burial, Your resurrection, and to know 
that You have seated me at the right hand of God the Father as I am in 
Christ. May I become an instrument of Your grace in the lives of others, 
all for Your glory and honor, in Jesus name, Amen.

*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*

*THE SECRET OF THE UNIVERSE*
*
Scripture Reading: Psa. 135:6; 147:7-18; Heb. 1:1-3

A friend of the President of a large manufacturing plant was being
conducted through the various departments, and he was quite bewildered
at the enormity of it all. He inquired, "Where do you get your power to
operate all of this equipment?" The President replied, "Follow me, and I
will show you." After a short walk, they were both in a smaller building
which housed the generators which made the power possible. "Here is the
secret of our out-put!" he proudly declared.

What is the secret behind the operations of this vast universe and our
little planet Earth? Is it mere "natural laws?" Is it merely matter in
motion? Is it solar energy? All of these things may be true, but they
are by no means the "power" behind this universe! The Word of Truth has
the answer! It is "the Word of His power" (He b. 1:3). What power there
is in both the Living and Spoken Word of God. We read: "For He spoke,
and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast" (Psa. 33:9)· "That by
the Word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of
the water and in the water" (2 Peter 3:5).

The invisible atom is held together by a mysterious "force. " We know
from Col. 1:17 that this "force" is none other than our Creator, the
Lord Jesus Christ: "For by Him all things consist (hold together)."
Someday, after the "Day of Jehovah" has run its course, this earth and
our stellar heavens will be "dissolved. " How? By His release of the
atoms which compose all material things. This in turn will create a
gigantic dissolution of the present sin-cursed heavens and earth. What a
day that will be: (Read 2 Peter 3:10-12 and Revelation 20:11; 21:1).

In the face of the Sovereign God Who is very much in control of this
universe, shall we continue to complain about the climate, the weather
today, the bugs, and other often-disagreeable things? It's human to do
so, but when we remember that God in Christ Jesus is behind the weather,
the winds, the climates of the earth, and even the insects which pester
us, we then can turn grumbling into glorying in the One who created all
things for His own pleasure! Worship ye Him!
Author unknown

*Dear Lord 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*

*THOUGHT OF THE WEEK*

*"Wherever you are,*
*whatever your circumstances may be,*
*whatever misfortune you may have suffered,*
*the music of your life has not gone.*
*It's inside you*
* if you listen to it, you can play it."*

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

*CALVARY' S SECRET *
*By Miles Stanford*
"Partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is
in the world" (2 Pet. 1:4).

We are to find out in Romans 6, through the gracious teaching of the
Spirit of truth, all that happened to the Lord Jesus there on the Cross.
Then we will know our own position and standing, since we were
judicially in Him there.

"Have you ever thought about God's thought about you, that you are 'to
be conformed to the image of His Son'? 'It doth not yet appear what we
shall be, but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him'
(Rom. 8:29; 1 John 3:2).

"This cannot fail. The Lord Jesus presses on our hearts that He brings
us into association with Himself. He 'hath blessed us with all spiritual
blessings in heavenly places in Christ Jesus' (Eph. 1:3). He puts us in
this position answering perfectly to His nature, and with a nature to
enjoy it."

"He imparts to us of Himself in order to qualify us for Himself."

"Not only is my blessing in heaven, but I need the Lord Jesus' power to
enable me to rise above the sense of my infirmity down here; for this
world, instead of contributing to me, makes me feel my weakness and
need, and that I must rise out of it to find and enjoy my blessing.

"The very infirmity which this evil age makes me conscious of makes me
draw upon the power of Christ, as the One outside it, passing into the
heavens, so that I take pleasure in the very infirmity which is exposed
here, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."-J. B.S.

"God forbid that I should glory, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus
Christ" (Gal. 6:14).

*Lord God of my salvation, thank You for the glorious message of the
gospel. *
*What good news it is to have forgiveness, *
*eternal life, and daily transformation through Your grace. *
* I rejoice that You have taken me out from under the law.*
* I now know that I am your inheritance, *
* I know you are my life,*
* and know that it is you Lord Jesus who brings forth spiritual fruit in
me,*
* and all the praise belongs to you.*
* May Your name be exalted, Amen.*

*Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; *
*that ye may know what is the hope of his calling,*
* and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, *

The Wonders Of His Grace
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler
Scripture Reading:

"For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was
rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty
might be rich."
-- II Corinthians 8:9

Whether the occasion is a holiday, a birthday celebration, or a
graduation, it is customary to give a gift. While some gifts are given
out of necessity, for the most part, a gift is an expression of our
love. We normally bestow these tokens of our affection on those whom we
feel deserve the honor. But God's ways are not our ways. He gave the
gift of His beloved Son to His enemies. That's a true love story! Oh,
the wonder of His grace that God sent His only begotten Son, the Son of
His love, to save sinners like you and me while we were fleeing from the
glory of His presence. Little wonder the Apostle Paul says, "Thanks be
unto God for His unspeakable gift" (II Cor. 9:15).

The word "unspeakable&q uot; here has the idea of"indescribab le." The gifts
I've received through the years were all describable. Some may have been
a little harder to describe than others, but describable nonetheless!
But the gift of God's dear Son is indescribable. Who can explain the
incarnation, how the eternal Son of God left heaven's glory and took
upon Himself the form of human flesh, yet was not tainted with our sin.
Who can explain how Christ was wholly God and wholly human in one
person? These wonders can only be received through the eye of faith.

The manger and the Cross stand at the two extremes of our Lord's life,
but they are connected by the tapestry of redemption. Hence," Christ
Jesus came into the world to save sinners." A love story that ends with
a death is tragic; in contrast, the death of Christ is the greatest
demonstration of love this world has ever seen. How much does God love
you? He gave His only begotten Son to die on your behalf. You see,Christ
wasn't dying for His sin, He knew no sin; He was dying for your sins and
my sins at Calvary. He was made sin for us that we might receive the
righteousness of God in Him. Have you trusted Him?

Surely you would never think of paying for a gift; why, the giver would
be highly offended --- how much more so with God. The payment for your
sins has already been furnished by the Giver; simply receive Him as a
gift from God. If you have, then why not thank Him today for His
unspeakable gift? After all, this is the Gift that includes all others!

*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*

*~CHRIST - ITS LIVING HEAD~*
*By DAVlD HAVARD, Pastor

Scripture Reading: Ephesians 1: 19-23;
Colossians 1: 18

Paul often used the analogy of the physical body to illustrate the truth
of our relationship to Christ spiritually (Romans 12:4-5; I Corinthians
12:12-27; Ephesians 5:29-30). Just as the physical body must be linked
to its head, so we must be linked to our Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. We
realize how silly it
would be to expect a physical body to function without its head, yet we
often forget that the same truth applies spiritually as well. In
Colossians 2:19 Paul warns of the results of becoming disconnected from
our Head. In similar terms, John 15:5 records Jesus' words about the
necessity of being linked to Him. "I am the vine, ye are the branches:
He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:
for without me ye can do nothing." It is still true that without Him, we
can do nothing! (No growth without being connected to Him, Ephesians 4:16.)

The titles King (over all the earth during the millennial kingdom) and
Head of all things, Colossians 1:18) are similar in that both speak of
His authority and position. However, there is an added dimension when
Christ is spoken of as the Head of His Body, the Church. A king conveys
a certain formality; the king and his subjects are separated by both
space and standing. But Jesus Christ as my Head is another matter
altogether! Rather than speaking of distance and formality, headship
speaks of intimacy and nearness! I am inseparably linked to my Living
Head, the Lord Jesus Christ. This is mystery truth, revealed to us by
God through the Apostle Paul. Because it is a mystery, I do not fully
understand or comprehend all that the Headship of Christ implies - but I
certainly
do rejoice in it!

*True Biblical Unity *
*Dear fellow member of the Church, the Body of Christ, of which all of
us believers are members under the Headship of our Lord Jesus Christ!
This is indeed a time when we need to thank God for leaders who
acknowledge Him, and for whom we can confidently pray!!

As we reflect on what the Holy Spirit said to the believers at Philippi
via the apostle Paul about disunity and consider how minimal it was in
comparison to the sectarianism that exists today, how much more we need
to apply what the apostle Paul says to confused Christendom today!

The apostle Paul says: "And this I pray: that your love may abound still
more and more in perfect knowledge and all discernment, unto the end
that you may prove the things differing, that you may be sincere and
without offense unto the day of Christ, having been filled with the
fruit of righteousness that is through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and
praise of God" (Philippians 1:9-11).

Paul's answer to the disunity at Philippi was that the love of the
Spirit might increasingly control their thinking and mutual relations.
He uses the plural form of the Greek pronoun you to indicate that all
were to love each other in the Spirit.

Spirit-produced love (Gal. 5:22) will be in accordance and alignment
with perfect knowledge and all discernment. Paul is apparently
describing the love of the Mystery aspect of the Gospel of Grace.
Growing in the love of the Spirit is a prerequisite to acquiring a full
knowledge and perceptive understanding, which is imperative for proving
and testing the things that differ in the Bible!

As we believers distinguish between the different ways God has and does
and will! relate to His people, then, we are no longer a part of
confused Christendom. For example, we recognize that for some fourteen
hundred years, God's relation to His people Israel was via the Mosaic
Law. Following the Mosaic Law, the prophesied Messianic Kingdom was
taught and offered to Israel, but rejected by Israel's leaders.
Following the rejection of the Messianic Kingdom, God has related to His
people via the Church.

The failure of most professed Christians to distinguish between the
Mosaic Law economy, the Kingdom Law economy, and the Church Grace
economy is one of the primary reasons for the multiplied sectarianism today!

Teaching the Gospel of Grace, Ernest R. Campbell

*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 His name, Amen.*

*GraceNTheTruth@COX.NET*

*THE HEAVENLY GIFT *
*By Pastor Floyd Baker*

Scripture Hebrews 6:4 "For it is impossible for those who were once
enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made
partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and
the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them
again unto repentance:"

There are many questions that have been raised as to the understanding
of this passage in Hebrews. Do these verses refer to some one who is
saved or someone who was close and then drew back? Does it teach that
you can lose your salvation? And, what is the "heavenly gift?" At the
outset we need to realize that this is written to the Hebrews. We will
find "truth for the Body of Christ," but we will not find "Body truth"
in this letter.

The focus of the writer from the beginning has been the Lord Jesus
Christ and His superiority to all that was associated with Israel's
covenants and blessings. It would appear that the "heavenly gift" is the
Lord Jesus Christ and His ministry to them. This brings with it all else
that you might see the gift to be.

What does the author mean when he states, "For it is impossible if they
shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance" ? (verses 4 and 6)
In verse 1 he has said, "leaving the principles of the doctrine of
Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of
repentance from dead works, and of faith towards God." He is saying that
you cannot go back and be saved all over again. They need to "go on unto
perfection." They need to come to a full understanding of who Christ is
and all that He has done and not to go back to the former things. Having
"tasted" they need to develop a hunger for the Lord.

Col 1:9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard [it], do not
cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the
knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
*
*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,*
* we pray in the Lord Jesus Christ name, Amen.*

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

*HOPE INSPIRES BOLDNESS *
*By Pastor Marvin Duncan*

Scripture II Corinthians 3:12
" Seeing then that we have such hope, we use great plainness of speech"

In Second Corinthians, chapter three, the Apostle Paul is writing about
the Gospel that had been committed to him by revelation, even the
message of the Mystery (Eph. 3:3) which the Holy Spirit had used to save
these Corinthians to whom he was now writing this letter.

The message of Christ's substitutionary death for the payment of the
debt of sin is compared with the Law of Moses, in verses six through
eighteen. Paul speaks of the Law of Moses as having a glory, but that
glory of the Law was not as great as the glory of the message he had
received from the risen, glorified, Lord Who is now in heaven.

In the first part of this third chapter, Paul said that he didn't need
anyone to commend him to these saints at Corinth. Their salvation was
proof that he was God's Apostle and the message he preached was God's
message to a world separated from their Creator by sin.

At the time of this letter, Paul was receiving a great deal of
opposition as to his Apostleship- -- both from the unbelieving Jews and
from some members of the church in Corinth. It was in answer to this
opposition to his Apostleship that Paul says (II Cor. 3:12) that when he
saw the power of the Gospel of the Grace of God changing lives, as was
evident from the fact that these Corinthians to whom he was writing had
experienced a change in their lives, he was encouraged in the hope that
this same message of the Mystery would change the lives of others.
Therefore, he would be bold in preaching the message of Christ's
substitutionary death for the forgiveness of sin.

Knowing that we, too, have been saved simply by believing the message of
the Grace of God, we should boldly preach the gospel of the Grace of God
in the hope that this same message will be used of the Holy Spirit to
save others and change their lives, as it did ours
* THOUGHT TO THINK ON*

*"KNOWN UNTO GOD ARE ALL HIS WAYS"*
*He knows from the beginning! *
*He moves forward to a purposed point and a glorious goal.*
* Man often fails to finish what he begins,*
* but God never begins what He does not finish*

*GraceNTheTruth@COX.NET*

*PERSONAL APPRECIATION*
*By Miles Stanford*
"As ye have, therefore, received Christ Jesus as Lord, so walk ye in 
Him, rooted and built up in Him" (Col. 2:7).

We appreciate His benefits toward us, but are we appreciative- do we 
express to Him our appreciation?

"Let us be very watchful that the inner life, communion with the Lord 
Jesus, be the true source of our activities."

"The Lord Jesus longs for fellowship with us. He does not want 
patronage. It does not meet the desire of His heart to be followed, or 
admired, or gazed at, because of what He can do or give. He delights in 
a heart taught of the Spirit to appreciate His Person, for this 
glorifies and gratifies the Father. He retires from the gaze of an 
excited and tumultuous throng who would fain make Him a king, because 
they had eaten of the loaves and were filled; but He could turn with 
touching earnestness to the little band of disciples who still remained, 
and challenge their hearts with the question, 'Will ye also go away?'"

"Love could never be too near to its object. Nearness to the Lord Jesus 
is the instinct of divine life, as we see in the first question of the 
two disciples who followed Him, 'Where dwellest Thou?' Why is not this 
the first question now? Because there is not simple devotedness of heart 
to the Lord Jesus Christ."

"There is nothing in all the world so precious to the Father as a heart 
that, in any measure, appreciates His Son."

"Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give 
you rest" (Matt. 11:28).

2Th 1:7 "And to you who are troubled rest with us, ......."

Should this Inspirational be a blessing and encouragement to you, why 
not send to a friend, coworker or, to your loved one. The Word of God is 
so needed in our troubled USA. We are loosing a great many of our 
privileges the founding fathers of our great county have protected us by 
the Constitution of America, there is no country in the world as great 
as America. Let's stand up and take back our roots.


Love The Truth

I love the truth.
I hate a lie.
Living a lie, we will die.
Jesus gave us the word of God.
The word of God is truth.
The word of God has set us free.
I was once blind, now I see.
For the grace of God has saved us.
I praise the Lord for this grace he hath set us free.
Jesus is the truth and the light.
He gave us life.
His Glory is so Bright.
For the Glory goes to Jesus Christ.
Let's not let be taken away.

In His grace and love, Paris

*GraceNTheTruth@COX.NET*

*BAPTIZED INTO HIS DEATH*
* by Russell S. Miller*

"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ, 
were baptized into His death" (Rom.6:3)?

It is a sad commentary indeed that after 2000 years the vast majority in 
fundamentalism still labors under the so-called "great commission" and, 
consequently, is manifestly confused and divided over the subject of 
water baptism. However this "baptism" of which Paul speaks here in 
Romans 6:3 is so absolutely absent of water that most of those who water 
baptize fail to see that believers in the dispensation of grace are 
actually "baptized into His death". This is why Paul can write in 
Galatians 2:20:

"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ 
liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the 
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

And not only that, but the Apostle further states that it is the old 
Adamic nature in all of us that was crucified with Christ:

"Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with Him, THAT THE BODY OF 
SIN MIGHT BE DESTROYED, THAT HENCEFORTH WE SHOULD NOT SERVE SIN" (Rom.6:6).

And what's more, in this baptism, "...the world is crucified unto me, 
and I unto the world" (Gal.6:14).

Furthermore, the Apostle Paul writes by divine inspiration in I 
Corinthians 12:13 that upon believing in the Lord Jesus Christ we are 
baptized into the Body of Christ:

"For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews 
or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink 
into one Spirit." And this was revealed to Paul "by the revelation of 
Jesus Christ" (Gal.1:11,12) .

We have been so completely identified with the Lord Jesus Christ in His 
death, burial and resurrection that Paul goes on in Romans 6 to declare:

"Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death: that like as 
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so 
we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom.6:4).

No wonder the Apostle exhorts:

"God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus 
Christ" (Gal.6:1
* THOUGHT TO THINK On

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 

Two Things We Know
by Pastor C. R. Stam

In Romans 8 St. Paul points to two great truths which every true 
believer knows. The first (Verses 22,23) he knows by experience; the second
(Verse 28) he knows by faith.

Rom. 8:22,23: “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and 
travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves 
also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan 
within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption four 
body.”

The words “until now,” in this passage, are significant, for our Lord 
came to earth healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, making the blind 
to see, the deaf to hear and the lame to leap for joy. But He was 
rejected by sinful men and nailed to a cross.

After His resurrection and ascension His persecutors were given another 
chance, however, as Peter called upon them to repent so that “the times 
of refreshing” might still “come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 
3:19,20). But again the King and His blessed kingdom were rejected so 
that, in the words of Paul, the whole creation continues to groan and 
travail in pain “together until now.”

But in this passage the Apostle points out that even God’s children are 
not exempt from this suffering, for the most sincere believer,the most 
consecrated saint, must still partake of the sufferings and sorrows of 
the world while he waits for “the redemption of our body,” when “we 
shall all be changed” (I Cor. 15:51).

But while every believer knows about suffering and sorrow by 
experience,there is something else he knows by faith. Verse 28 speaks of 
this:

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love 
God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

The true Christian is not a mere optimist; he is a believer in God’s 
Word, and God has much to say about how He is working all out for the 
good of His own. We have room here to quote but two passages:

II Cor. 4:17: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, 
worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”

Rom. 8:18: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are 
not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed In us.”

*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

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*

*THE DOCTRINE OF SUBSTITUTION*
*BY Robert Hanna*

Scripture Reading: Romans 4:25; 5: I

"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3b). 
The guilt of transgression was ours, but the punishment was suffered by 
Him "who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that 
we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes 
ye were healed" (I Peter 2:24). Human reasoning does not accept this 
astounding truth. Civil courts do not operate on such a principle, which 
would never be recognized as either moral or just. Finite intelligence 
cannot conceive of punishment being rendered by a loving God, even 
against the guilty ---much less against an innocent victim in substitution.

But this is altogether GOD'S doing. God created man. Man turned against 
God. For fellowship to be restored there must be a reconciliation 
between the parties involved, the offender and the offended. Since God 
is not only the victim but also the judge, His is the power to assign 
guilt and render punishment. We do not understand vicarious sacrifice; 
we must simply, by faith, receive and cherish the newness of life 
bestowed by the grace of God in providing it. "[He] was delivered for 
our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore 
being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus 
Christ."

Such is the miracle of love and grace by "God our Saviour; Who will have 
[wishes] ALL MEN to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the 
truth... Who gave Himself a ransom FOR ALL" (I Timothy 2:4, 6).

*Yes, 'tis sweet to trust in Jesus,*
*Just from sin and self to cease;*
*Just from Jesus simply taking*
*Life and rest, and joy and peace. *
*I'm so glad I learned to trust Thee,*
*Precious Jesus, Saviour, Friend; *
*And I know that Thou art with me, *
*Wilt be with me to the end! *

Be On Your Guard!
By R.B. Shiflet

One of the strongest appeals that the Apostle Paul makes to believers is 
that found inColossians 2:4-23 
, in which he warns us 
against letting Satan capture our minds. This section of the epistle is 
bounded on either side by the word "hid," and its key message is the 
fulness of Christ as the only answer to the emptiness of human 
reasoning. Note how in verse 3 he refers to Christ, "in whom are hid all 
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," and in chapter 3, verse 3, he 
says to us as believers, "ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ 
in God." Between these passages that tell us that all true wisdom and 
knowledge are hidden in Christ and that our own lives are also hidden in 
Him, he calls attention to (1) The Purpose of our Enemy, (2) The Plan of 
our Enemy, and (3) The Protection Against our Enemy.

The Purpose of Our Enemy

The aim of our foe is stated inColossians 2:8 
: "Beware lest any man 
spoil you." The term "spoil" means to "rob," or to "make a prey" of, or 
to take one captive. It is obvious that a loose hold on the truth of our 
fulness in Christ will make one an easy victim to this method of 
deception. Just as surely as the truth makes free, error genders to 
bondage. One who fails to see the truth of our completeness in Christ 
and His fulness does not have a balanced view of truth and can be easily 
led astray.

It is interesting to note the bait that Satan uses to reason aside the 
weak brother that he takes into captivity. For the carnal believer, such 
as those at Corinth, he uses the coarse appeals of the flesh with all of 
its lusts. But for the "spiritual&quo t; Christian who still has an unbalanced 
view of truth, he may use a "spiritual&quo t; bait—as is suggested 
inColossians 2:18 . This 
may come in the form of "visions, " superior claims to holy living, or 
any effort to attain spiritual progress through fleshly efforts or wisdom.

The Plan of Our Enemy

The enemy usually lures us aside through an emphasis on an empty, 
deceitful kind of wisdom. He bases this, according to our chapter in 
Colossians, on three things:

First, he uses man-made teachings, or the traditions of men. Bible 
teachers tell us that the word "tradition&quo t; as used here is found 
thirteen times in the New Testament, and it is usually used in a bad 
sense. Note, for example, where the Pharisees were charged with making 
the Word of God of none effect through their traditions (Mark 7:2-7 
http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Mark%207.2-7). How much of the church 
programs of today are nothing more than traditions of men, with no 
Scriptural basis!

Second, Satan would lead us astray by keeping us in the elements, or 
rudiments of the world. The term "rudiments&quo t; means "first steps." The 
Hebrews were told that these rudiments or elements belonged to 
childhood, and the mature believer was charged to leave them and go on 
(Hebrews 5:12-6:3 http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Hebrews%205.12-6.3). 
The Galatians were told that these rudiments would only gender bondage 
(Galatians 4:3 http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Galatians% 204.3). 
InColossians 2:20 http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Colossians% 202.20, the 
believer is told that he is dead with Christ to these rudiments, and 
that he therefore should not be subject to carnal ordinances. By way of 
contrast, he is told to set his affections on things above, not on 
things on the earth. Believers who live in the shadow days of external 
ordinances miss the joy of the reality, who is Christ; those who feel 
that they can worship only with these worldly elements fail to see that 
we are citizens of heaven and in the sight of God are "seated with 
Christ" in heavenly places even now.

Third, if Satan cannot lure us through traditions of men and rudimentary 
ordinances, he will make the intellectual appeal. He will reason us 
aside through wisdom of words, making the cross of Christ ineffective (1 
Corinthians 1:17 http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1%20Cor.%201.17 ); he 
will try to get us so involved in the wisdom of this world that we will 
fail to see that it is only foolishness to God (1 Corinthians 3:19 
http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/1%20Cor.%203.19  ); he will lead us into 
fleshly wisdom, frustrating the grace of God (2 Corinthians 1:12 
http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/2%20Cor. %201.12 ); and he will make the 
wisdom from beneath so, attractive that we neglect the wisdom which is 
from above (James 3:15-17 http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/James% 203.15-17 ).

The Protection Against Our Enemy

The entire Colossian epistle is written to give us the protection we 
need against these tactics of our enemy. It may be summarized in one or 
two verses: "For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, 
and ye are COMPLETE IN HIM, which is the head of all principality and 
power" (Colossians 2:9-10 
http://biblia.com/bible/nkjv/Colossians% 202.9-10 ). This completeness 
in Christ is the exact opposite of the empty, vain life that Satan has 
to offer. Are we really aware of what we have? YE ARE COMPLETE IN HIM! 
If I am complete in Christ, then nothing a preacher or a church can do 
for me in the way of ritual or religion is needed. As a matter of fact, 
we can add nothing to completeness. We are Complete in HIM. If we 
believe this, may we act upon it and make Christ the center and 
circumference of our lives. May we rejoice in Him, glory in Him, do all 
that we say or do in HIS name, giving no occasion to the flesh, but 
doing all for His honor and glory. Only then will the purpose and plan 
of our enemy be foiled and our protection against him be sure.

*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*  
*THE MIGHTY CREATOR!*
*By Pastor Paul Hume
Scripture Reading: Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16-17

A small girl who lived in a remote section of the country was receiving 
her first Bible instruction at the hands of her elderly grandmother, and 
the old lady was reading the child the story of the creation. After the 
story had been finished, the little girl seemed lost in thought. "Well, 
dear," said the grandmother, "what do you think of it?" "Oh, I love it. 
It's so exciting," exclaimed the youngster. "You never know what God is 
going to do next!"

How thrilling it is to know that the visible and invisible elements of 
this universe and world of ours is the product of the perfect and only 
Creator: God the Father in the Person of His Son by the agency of the 
Holy Spirit! How sodden and sterile is the popular so-called 
"scientific&qu ot; hypothesis that this universe and our world is simply the 
product of evolving matter with energy to motivate it! Nay! It is 
refreshing to be anchored to the "old landmarks" of the Truth and 
declare, "Thou art worthy, 0 Lord, to receive glory, and honor, and 
power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are 
and were created" (Rev. 4:11). View the Sovereign Creator:

"The great God was all alone amid the awful silence of His own vast 
universe. But even at that time, if time it could be called, God was 
sovereign. He might create or not create according to His own good 
pleasure. He might create this way or that way; He might create one 
world or one million worlds, and who was there to resist His will? He 
might call into existence a million different creatures and place them 
on absolute equality, endowing them with the same faculties and placing 
them in the same environment; or, He might create a million creatures 
each differing from the others, and possessing nothing in common save 
their creature hood, and who was there to challenge His right? If He so 
pleased, He might call into existence a world so immense that its 
dimensions were utterly beyond finite computation; and were He so 
disposed, He might create an organism so small that nothing but the most 
powerful micro-scope would reveal its existence to human eyes." (A.W. 
Pink). Are you part of His new creation?

*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 for the Week *
"Parents, what are your children learning from your worship? Do they see 
the same excitement as when you go to a basketball game? Do they see you 
prepare for worship as you do for a vacation? Do they see you hungry to 
arrive, seeking the face of the Father? Or do they see you content to 
leave the way you came?.....They are watching. Believe me. They are 
watching." - Max Lucado

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

*~ONE THING~*
*by C. R. Stam *
*

Referring to the great Temple of God, which King David so earnestly 
hoped to build, he said:

“ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED of the Lord; that will I seek after; that I 
may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold 
the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple” (Psa.27:4).

Similarly, when Martha of Bethany complained to Jesus that Mary “sat at 
[His] feet and heard His Word” while she was left to serve alone, the 
Lord answered:

“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but 
ONE THING IS NEEDFUL, and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall 
not be taken away from her” (Luke 10: 41,42).

Today, with regard to the message of grace from the ascended, glorified 
Lord, the Apostle Paul exhorts us: “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you 
richly” (Col.3:16). Wonderful results follow such a determination to 
know Christ through the Word.

When the Lord Jesus opened the eyes of the blind beggar, the poor man 
was immediately persecuted by the religious leaders of the day. He could 
not answer all of their questions but he could answer the one most 
important to himself:

“ONE THING I KNOW, that, whereas I was blind, now I see” (John 9:25).

The rest of the narrative relates how the blind beggar also received 
spiritual sight as, face to face with the Son of God, he exclaimed: 
“Lord, I believe! …and…worshiped Him” (Ver.38).

But what about our conduct after spiritual sight has been bestowed? The 
most consecrated believer will acknowledge that he often fails to live 
up to the light he has received. St. Paul, by inspiration, gives us the 
solution to this problem also, saying:

“THIS ONE THING I DO: forgetting those things which are behind, and 
reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press [strain] 
toward the goal for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ 
Jesus” (Phil.3:13,14) .

*GOD’S JUST JUDGMENTS*
*by C. R. Stam
"We are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth..."

The first 15 verses of Romans 2 always make me think of our Lord’s 
dealings with the rich young ruler of Luke 18:18,19. "Good Master," the 
ruler had said, "what shall I do to inherit eternal life?"

The Lord answered in effect: "Why do you call Me good? There is none 
good but God, so if I am good I must be God. But do you want to know 
what to do to inherit eternal life? Simply obey the Law, the Ten 
Commandments. "

Our Lord, of course, was trying to show the young man that it was 
impossible to earn salvation by doing good. To keep the Law was 
impossible for any child of fallen Adam, and breaking the Law could only 
bring condemnation. Now this absolute justice is the basis for the 
believer’s confidence in God.

It is wonderful to know that God does not merely pity sinners and 
smuggle them into heaven if they are sorry. If He did, someone in heaven 
could point an accusing finger at this writer and say: "What, you here!" 
Thank God, He has rather taken us before the bar of justice, pronouncing 
us guilty, but has stepped down, as it were, to pay the penalty for our 
sins Himself, then justly declaring us righteous! This is why salvation, 
in Scripture, is based upon Christ’s payment of our just debt. This is 
why Rom. 3:24 declares that believers are "justified freely, by His 
grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

"That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through 
righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 5:21).

"Heavenly Father, thank you for my country, the United States of 
America, the only country in the world founded upon religious freedom 
and your Word. Thank you for our founding fathers, Lord, who looked to 
you for guidance to develop the kind of government that would be 
pleasing to you. We need your wisdom to safeguard our freedom. May the 
light of your word run swiftly throughout our country, and your love 
burn brightly in our land. Give us a rebirth of freedom, in the name of 
the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."

THE APOSTLE OF GRACE
by Russell S. Miller

"How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable 
words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such an one will I 
glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities" 
(IICor.12:4, 5).

When the world was ripe for the judgment of God to fall upon it, the 
Lord Jesus Christ in mercy and grace reached down to save "the chief of 
sinners," and in so doing God "shewed forth all longsuffering" to a lost 
and dying world.

"And [Saul] trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me 
to do?" (Acts 9:6).

It is most touching, after being caught up to the third heaven 
(IICor.12:1- 7), that this once proud Pharisee should speak most humbly 
of the Christ who had saved him from such an eternal loss, making him 
"the Apostle of grace." In a number of passages Paul speaks with such 
gratitude of the matchless grace of God and his own unworthiness:

"For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews religion, 
how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

"And profited in the Jews religion above many my equals in mine own 
nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers" 
(Gal.1:13,14) .

"For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an 
apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

"But by the grace of God I am what I am: and His grace which was 
bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than 
they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (ICor.15:9,10) .

In Ephesians 3:7, the Apostle tells us that he is "made a minister, 
according to the gift of the grace of God, given unto me by the 
effectual working of His power.

"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, 
that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of 
Christ" (Eph.3:8).

And Paul's apostleship is further confirmed in I Timothy 2:7:

"Whereunto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth 
in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity."

The theme of Paul's epistles is "Grace be to you, and peace, from God 
our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (Eph.1:2). This is why Paul 
is "the Apostle of grace."

*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

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 KNOWLEDG

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

*THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD*
*Part Three of Three*
*By Pastor James Gray*

Today it is Grace that trains us. The word instructing is the Greek verb 
paideuo, and actually means to train a child, to bring up a child. It is 
the training process. Grace schools believers in holiness. The Grace of 
God does not stop with salvation, but is active and continuously 
operates. It offers not only the escape from condemnation, but aims 
toward the goal of transforming our character. It is the operating 
principle in the life of believers which educates us to be what God 
wants us to be. The aim of this educative process is clearly stated in 
typical Pauline fashion, both negatively and positively.

Negatively, it trains us to deny "ungodliness and worldly lust." The 
word deny is ameomai meaning abrogate, renounce or forsake. It is also 
interesting that this word is found not in the present tense as one 
would expect, but the aroist tense. D. Edmond Hiebert tells us that,

The aorist participle indicates that grace aims to lead the believer to 
the place whereas a definite act he will voluntarily make a double 
renunciation of the past ("Titus, " The Expositor' s Bible Commentary, 
11:440).

Thus, it seems that Grace training is deeper than the Law. It acts upon 
the will, not just the mind. The Law can teach mentally what is right or 
wrong, but it could not change the heart or the will of man. Grace 
changes the motive of man, not just the mind of man. When one correctly 
understands the Grace of God it will transform him. He will come to the 
place where he will deny ungodliness (the irreverence of the old life), 
and worldly lust (passions characteristic of the world). He will live on 
a higher plane.

Positively, it will train us to "live soberly, righteously, and godly in 
this present world." This is the highest plane. Again the word live is 
in the aroist tense. Hiebert makes the observation that:

Live may mean "come to live" but more probably means that our entire 
course of life should be consistently characterized by three qualities 
(stated as adverbs). In the original these adverbs stand emphatically 
before the verb ).

First, we are to live on the plane of being sober-minded. The Greek 
word, sophronos, has already been found in various forms in the epistle 
(2:2, 3, 5, 6). It describes one whose mind is well balanced; the 
balanced mind set. It means self-controlled. Grace trains us to control 
the inward attitude.

Second, we are to live on the plane of righteousness. The Greek word is 
dikaios, which signifies being just, without prejudice or partiality. It 
describes how we are to live outwardly, in faithfulness to the demands 
of truth and justice in relation to others.

Third, we are to live on the plane of being godly. This is the Greek 
word eusebos, denoting pious, devout, reverently. This speaks of our 
upward attitude toward God, being devoted to God in reverence and obedience.

This training is not futuristic, but for "this present age." These 
characteristics are to be present now. Grace not only instructs, but 
transforms us to live on this plane here and now. Believers are to rise 
to the higher elevation of Grace. Grace has appeared to transform us 
into all God intended us to be, and elevates us to the highest plane.

Dear Lord Jesus Christ, my victorious Lord, how often I attempt to be 
the one who directs my life. I confess that when I lead, victory is not 
the result. Lord, help me to count on You to lead me in Your triumph, 
even in the difficult situations that I frequently encounter. In Your 
triumphant name, I pray, Amen.

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

*THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD*
*Part One of Three*
*By Pastor James Gray*
Paul knew the secret of living the Christian life. He knew that if
believers were to live sensible, be examples of good works, purity, and
adorn the doctrine of God, it would come not by the Law. It would take
the Grace of God. Grace is the basis and motivation of Christian living.
It is the transforming power of our salvation. All the previously
mentioned transformations in Titus 2:1-10 are the products of Grace.
Grace is the reason we can be all we are meant to be.

GRACE HAS APPEARED.

The Christian life is possible because the Grace of God "has appeared."
The word appeared is the Greek word epiphane, meaning became visible,
appearance, manifestation. It is an emphatic aorist indicative,
stressing grace as a historical actuality. The grace of God has entered
upon the stage of history. It is observed in three ways:

First, grace is seen in historical redemptive acts. Throughout history
God has displayed His grace. It is seen in the garden, in that physical
death was not instantaneous, but rather the grace of God made provision
for sinful man. Noah found grace, and was spared the judgment of the
flood. The nation Israel was founded upon grace. This nation was not
chosen because it was numerous, nor because of its power, but simply by
His grace. The redemptive acts throughout the history of this nation are
a visible display of His grace.

Second, the greatest visible manifestation of God's grace is seen in the
sending of His Son. Christ was the Grace of God embodied. In fact, the
Greek word epiphane is where we get our word epiphany, which means the
revelatory manifestation of divine being. God revealed Himself in and
through His Son. Christ was God incarnate. He was the embodiment of
Grace. Christ is the clearest manifestation of grace available to man.
He who "existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a
thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a
bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in
appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the
point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil. 2:6-8, NASV). That is
Grace! No wonder the gospel writer declares that during the incarnation
they beheld His glory, full of grace and truth (John 1:14). The
incarnate Christ was grace and truth manifested in flesh; the historical
appearance of God's grace. Leon Morris is correct when writing that
"nowhere do we see more clearly what the grace of God means than in the
Word made flesh" (John 1:14).

Third, the Grace of God is historically manifested on a personal level
at the point of our personal salvation. At the moment of our salvation
God's grace is manifested and applied to us on an individual level. "For
by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves. it is
the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). The transforming power of God's grace
is still being manifested. This transforming power begins at the point
of salvation.
*Don't trust to hold God's hand; let Him hold yours. *
*Let Him do the holding, and you the trusting. *
*-- Hammer William Webb-Peploe *

*THE TRANSFORMING GRACE OF GOD*
*Part Two of Three*
*By Pastor James Gray*
GRACE BROUGHT SALVATION.

The reason for the historical appearances of grace was to bring
salvation. That is the goal of grace. God has manifested His grace into
order to bring salvation to all men. It is redemptive in purpose.

Bible students are divided on what the phrase "to all men" is to be
coupled with, the "hath appeared," or with the ''bringing of salvation."
It seems that it should be connected with the bringing of salvation to
all men. This is the most natural reading of the Greek text. The literal
reading of the Greek text is "For appeared the grace of God which brings
salvation for all men." The phrase is a dative in the Greek and thus
suggests the scope of salvation. It describes the universality of God's
grace that brings salvation. It is for all men. Grace makes salvation
available to all, regardless of age, race, sex, position, or circumstances.

It is important to note that this widespread scope does NOT mean
universality of application. Salvation is available to all, but its
saving effect is dependent on personal application to oneself by faith.
"By grace are ye saved through faith." The Grace of God is the source of
our salvation, but faith is the channel. Faith is the channel that
permits saving grace to flow into our lives. Grace makes all men
savable, but faith is the element that actualizes salvation in
individuals. The imperative of grace is to "believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ and thou shall be saved" (Acts 16:31).

GRACE TRAINS US.

To this point the Apostle Paul has centered upon what grace has done.
Now the Apostle centers upon what Grace does. The verb tense changes
from past to present tense, thus the word teaching or instructing. It is
an action that is going on now. The Grace of God is continual in the
life of the believer. Notice Paul designates the recipients of this
instruction as "us," those who have personally accepted by faith His
salvation by grace. Once grace starts flowing by salvation through
faith, it continues to flow to train us in holiness.

The student should notice carefully that it is not the Law that is
active today in training us. Paul in the epistles makes it very clear
that the Law, although holy and good, is powerless to change us. Its
purpose was to reveal the knowledge of sin (Galatians 3:19), to reveal
our guilt before God (Romans 3:19), and to lead us to Christ (Galatians
3:24). However it could not and cannot justify us before God (Romans
3:20,28). The Law made nothing perfect (Hebrews 7:19). Just as the Law
cannot justify, it cannot sanctify, the reason is that it is "weak
through the flesh" Romans 8:3). Believers in this age of grace are not
under the Law (Romans 6:14). When will we as believers learn the truths
that the Apostle Paul gives to the church? That Christ is the end of the
Law for righteousness (Romans 10:4). Too many believers today are like
the Galatians who think that having begun in the spirit, they can now be
made perfect by the Law (Galatians 3:1-4). C.R. Stam is absolutely
correct when writing, "Efforts to keep the Law will never establish
one's righteousness; rather they will establish his unrighteousness. "

*"A TRUE VETERAN" *
*by C. R. Stam *

Before you have placed your trust in Christ as your Lord and Savior,
there is nothing whatever you can do to please God or to gain acceptance
with Him. John 3:35 declares that "the Father loves the Son" and cares
what you think about Him and do with Him. This is why Verse 36 goes on
to say:

"He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that
believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth
on him."

But once you have received Christ as your Savior and Lord there is much
you can do to please God. You can witness to His saving grace, you can
please Him by living a godly life, you can work for Him, you can
sacrifice of your means to further His cause, and yes, you can fight for
Him. "Fight for Him" you say? Yes indeed, for this world system, our
Adamic natures and Satan and his hosts, are all antagonistic toward the
Christ who died for our sins. Satan’s forces, especially, work behind
the scenes to "blind the minds of them that believe not" (II Cor. 4:4).
These fallen angels, we read, are "the rulers of the darkness of this
world" (Eph. 6:12).

This is why God urges His children to be "strong in the Lord," putting
on "the whole armor of God," so as to meet and defeat these evil forces
(Vers. 10,11). This is why He puts a sword ("the Word of God") into our
hands and bids us "stand. .. stand... stand!" (Vers. 11-14).

Ah, but a great veteran, who waged many battles in making Christ known
to the lost, gives us an inkling of the thrill that goes with being "a
good soldier of Jesus Christ." In his last words, just before his
execution, the Apostle Paul declared triumphantly: "I have fought a good
fight!" (II Tim. 4:7). It was indeed "a good fight" in which he had been
engaged, a fight to bring light and salvation and blessing to benighted
souls. And the reward:

"Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown" (Ver. 8).

JEW AND GENTILE ON SAME LEVEL*
*DICK WARE, Pastor*

Scripture: Romans 10:12; 11:32; Ephesians 2:16,17

Jew and Gentile on "the same level" is something unique to this program
of Grace and to the writings of the Apostle Paul. This is not true of
God's prophetic program. Nor, will you find Jew and Gentile on the same
level from Genesis 12 (with the calling apart of Abraham) all the way
through the book of Acts. Once you start in the book of Hebrews all the
way through the book of Revelation, you will not find the Jew and the
Gentile on "the same level." It's only in the thirteen books that begin
with the first word "Paul" that you find this is the case.

Before we look at the later chapters in the book of Romans, let's look
at the earlier ones. First God establishes the fact that the Jew and
Gentile are on "the same level" as to both being lost (3:9). "For there
is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of
God" (Rom. 3:22b, 23). In Romans 5, God's justification is for "the
ungodly," "the sinner," and even "the enemy of God" (5:6, 8,10). In this
"program of Grace" committed to the Apostle Paul, there is no difference
between who is lost, and between who can be saved (Rom. 10:12; 11:32)!

As we come to Ephesians chapter 2, we are dealing with two different
Divine programs, two different groups of people, and with God's New
Creation, The Body of Christ. First, there is the TIME PAST (God's past
program) in which the Gentiles were separate from God's chosen people,
the nation of Israel (vrs. 11, 12). As Israel rejected 'The God of
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Acts 3:13), the Gentiles stood: alienated
from Israel's blessings, covenants, and promises. We were said to be
without HOPE and without GOD in the world! "BUT NOW -- both Jew and
Gentile are "ONE NEW MAN" in "ONE BODY" (Eph. 2:13-17)! Today, Jew and
Gentile are on "THE SAME LEVEL" when it comes to: who is lost; who can
be saved; and who are the members of the Body of Christ!
*If there were four words I should never forget, it's these:*
*"God Keeps His Word." *
*When it comes to studying God's Word, *
*school is always in session.*

The Great Deceiver
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler

“Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy bottle to
him, and makest him drunken.” —Habakkuk2:15

There are many passages in the Word of God, such as the above reference,
that are timeless principles. While the alcohol industry goes to great
lengths to get people to believe that drinking is a harmless way to have
a good time, the facts are otherwise. It is very careful never to
advertise the alcoholic who is dying of cirrhosis of the liver or the
homes that have been destroyed by strong drink. And of course, there’s
always a voice in the crowd that says a few social drinks will never
hurt anyone. Most recovering alcoholics, however, tell a much different
story of how their slide into a life of drunkenness all started with
social drinking.

“Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived
thereby is not wise” (Prov. 20:1).

Many years ago, I was driving through Apollo, Pennsylvania, where I saw
a mangled piece of wreckage alongside of the road. Upon slowing down, I
discovered it was an automobile, or at least what was left of it.
Apparently someone survived the crash because there were beer cans
strategically placed beside the car with a sign, which read, “And they
told us we were going to have fun!” Someone lied.

Contrary to the world’s view that alcoholism is a disease, the Word of
God calls drunkenness a sin (Gal. 5:19-21). Excessive drinking is not a
disease; it is a matter of choice. Although some drunkards overcome
their addiction through programs such as Alcoholics Anonymous, apart
from faith, all too often they return to their drinking ways when
confronted with a crisis. The world’s answer to the problems of this
life is, “I need a drink.” However, the answer is not found in the
bottom of a bottle. The answer is a personal relationship with Christ!

Everyone reading these lines has a family member, a dear friend, or a
neighbor who struggles with this temptation. Yes, even believers wrestle
with this sin, as Paul makes very clear:

“Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and
drunkenness….But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision
for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof” (Rom.13:12-14) .

The best thing we can do for those who grapple with this addiction is to
show them our love and support. It is important to share with them that
they are dead to this sin in Christ and therefore, it doesn’t have to
control their life any longer. Since alcoholism is such a deeply seated
problem, encourage them to search out a godly pastor or Christian
counselor who can assist them in a better understanding of Romans,
Chapter 6.

*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*

*MY FATHER CARES!*
*By M. Stanford*

"I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear" (Job 42:5)

The heart that is hungry to have God's purpose worked out in his life is
going to be neither disappointed, nor pampered. When it comes to seeing
self for what it is, there can be no pampering; when it comes to seeing
the Lord Jesus Christ for who He is, there can be no disappointment.

"Why are the people of God suffering? - that they may be conformed to
the image of His Son. Of course, we may not need a world upheaval to do
this, but God is going to use all conditions to that end, and,
tragically enough, there are multitudes of the Lord's people who do need
a world shaking.
"They are so bound up with the externalities of Christianity, with its
whole structure and system, that nothing but that which will overthrow,
disintegrate, destroy, and raise tremendous questions about the whole
business, will bring them to the place where the Spirit of God can begin
really to do the work He has come to do in them."
- T.A-S.

"Job was a true servant of God; but he needed to learn himself, as we
all do. He needed to have the roots of his moral being laid bare in his
own sight so that he might really abhor himself, and repent in dust and
ashes. And furthermore, he needed a truer and deeper sense of what God
was, so that he might trust Him and justify Him under all
circumstances. " - C.H.M.

"But now mine eye seeth Thee" (Job 42:5).

*Eden's Religion*
*Steve McVey *
*

Like many Christians are, I was a religious person for many years. I'm 
not anymore. It shocked me years ago when, for the first time, I saw 
plainly from the Bible that neither was Jesus. In fact, it was religious 
people who were His strongest opponents.

The word "religion" ; finds its origin in the Latin word, religare. It 
means "to bind" as in the sense of placing an obligation on somebody. 
(World Book Dictionary) That's exactly what religion always does. It 
focuses on behavioral mandates that are supposedly necessary to satisfy 
what God expects from us, but nothing could be further from the truth.

The roots of religion go all the way back to the Garden of Eden. There 
were two trees in the Garden of Eden that were right in the center. One 
was the Tree of Life and the other was the Tree of the Knowledge of Good 
and Evil. The latter was "the religion tree." Why would I suggest that? 
It's because it provided knowledge about what is good and what is evil - 
the cornerstone of all religion. Eating from that tree brings a person 
into the religious world of discerning right from wrong in an attempt to 
do the first and avoid the latter. Isn't that what religion still does 
today? It tells us the things we ought to be doing and the things we 
ought to be avoiding? There's just one problem with the religious 
approach. God told us to avoid it altogether.

Note carefully in the Genesis narrative that our Creator didn't say eat 
from the good fruit on the tree but avoid the evil. He said not to eat 
from that tree at all - ever. His desire for you is that you live in 
union with Him, not out of religion. Morality isn't an issue at all when 
our actions flow from His indwelling Life. At that point, our behavior 
transcends morality. In fact, it is miraculous.

The sad reality in the modern church world is that the religious world 
of "Christianity& quot; is unwittingly promoting the fruit of the forbidden 
tree as though it were the answer to our needs. We may say that we are 
defenders and proclaimers of the gospel, but in reality we are often 
peddling the poisonous, albeit good fruit the Serpent himself deceived 
Eve into eating.

The answer for us all isn't to improve our behavior. It's not to stop 
doing bad things and start doing good things. The fact is that even if 
we could eliminate all evil behavior and replace it with nothing but 
good behavior, we'd still have the same problem. We would still be up 
the wrong tree. Our Father is calling us to abandon the fruit from the 
poisonous tree of religious behavioral modification. He is inviting us 
to partake from the Fruit of the Tree of Life every day. He invites us 
to find our Sustenance in the living Christ, who said, "Take, eat. This 
is my body which is broken for you." Because of His grace we are able to 
freely eat from the finished work on another tree that stood on Golgotha 
two thousand years ago. Eating from that tree, we will never hunger again.
You don't need to see the way if you follow the one that is the Way.†*
*Author Unknown *

*THE PROPHETIC WRITINGS*
*Part One of Two*
*By James Krieg*
*Romans 16:25*
*

We get many letters at Canyonview Bible Seminary from Sunday school 
teachers and Bible study leaders concerning the differences in 
translations. The teacher frustration comes when the class is content to 
amalgamate the various translations and pronounce the majority opinion 
as correct. But the majority opinion is not always correct. And 
especially when you mix in the paraphrased versions it can be quite 
misleading.

Romans 16:25-26 is one passage that falls into this category; the 
majority opinion of translations can lead to a poor interpretation.

Rom 16:25 (KJV) 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,

Rom 16:26 (KJV) 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:

A better translation from the Greek would read thus:

16:25 "And to the one being able to establish you according to my 
gospel and the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the 
revelation of the mystery having been kept silent in times eternal, BUT 
NOW having been manifested and made known to all the gentiles through 
the prophetic writings according to the arrangement of the eternal God 
for the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, 
to him is glory forever, amen."

The phrase "prophetic writings" is what we will examine in detail here.

Dropping back to verse 25 to pick up the context, Paul states that the 
tenants of this gospel and the preaching of Christ through him 
established believers today. He says this gospel is in accordance with 
revealed mystery truth. It is a mystery because it was kept silent in 
all past ages.

The great Pauline phrase "but now" begins verse 26. BUT NOW it is not 
kept silent any longer. His gospel has been manifested and made known 
through the agency of the prophetic writings.

Most of the nine translations I have before me, not all, translate the 
Greek phrase as writings of the prophets. With this translation the 
reader would normally think of the writings of the Old Testament 
prophets (cf. Acts 28:23; Rom. 1:2). But by a quick recall we see this 
totally contradicts verse 25. God kept silent concerning the revelation 
of the mystery when He communicated with the Old Testament prophets.

The problem is that "writings of the prophets" is an incorrect 
translation. Looking closely we first of all see the word "graphe. " We 
get our English word "graphics" ; from this and it is translated writings 
in scriptures.

The next word, "Prophertikos& quot; is the one that seems to give us problems. 
First of all, we need to see what part of speech this is. It is an 
adjective. The English word "prophet" is a noun, not an adjective. To 
translate the adjective form we use the word "prophetic. " Plain and 
simple, if we translate this "prophet " we use the wrong part of speech.

We can see from verse 25 that it could not be the Old Testament prophets 
through whom the new revelation of the mystery was made known. 
Therefore, who did write the "prophetic writings" ?
*Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, *
*which from the beginning of the world *
*hath been hid in God,*
*who created all things by Jesus Christ*

*THE PROPHETIC WRITINGS*
*Part One of Two*
*By James Krieg*
*Romans 16:25*

We get many letters at Canyonview Bible Seminary from Sunday school 
teachers and Bible study leaders concerning the differences in 
translations. The teacher frustration comes when the class is content to 
amalgamate the various translations and pronounce the majority opinion 
as correct. But the majority opinion is not always correct. And 
especially when you mix in the paraphrased versions it can be quite 
misleading.

Romans 16:25-26 is one passage that falls into this category; the 
majority opinion of translations can lead to a poor interpretation.

Rom 16:25 (KJV) 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,

Rom 16:26 (KJV) 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:

A better translation from the Greek would read thus:

16:25 "And to the one being able to establish you according to my 
gospel and the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, according to the 
revelation of the mystery having been kept silent in times eternal, BUT 
NOW having been manifested and made known to all the gentiles through 
the prophetic writings according to the arrangement of the eternal God 
for the obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, 
to him is glory forever, amen."

The phrase "prophetic writings" is what we will examine in detail here.

Dropping back to verse 25 to pick up the context, Paul states that the 
tenants of this gospel and the preaching of Christ through him 
established believers today. He says this gospel is in accordance with 
revealed mystery truth. It is a mystery because it was kept silent in 
all past ages.

The great Pauline phrase "but now" begins verse 26. BUT NOW it is not 
kept silent any longer. His gospel has been manifested and made known 
through the agency of the prophetic writings.

Most of the nine translations I have before me, not all, translate the 
Greek phrase as writings of the prophets. With this translation the 
reader would normally think of the writings of the Old Testament 
prophets (cf. Acts 28:23; Rom. 1:2). But by a quick recall we see this 
totally contradicts verse 25. God kept silent concerning the revelation 
of the mystery when He communicated with the Old Testament prophets.

The problem is that "writings of the prophets" is an incorrect 
translation. Looking closely we first of all see the word "graphe. " We 
get our English word "graphics" ; from this and it is translated writings 
in scriptures.

The next word, "Prophertikos& quot; is the one that seems to give us problems. 
First of all, we need to see what part of speech this is. It is an 
adjective. The English word "prophet" is a noun, not an adjective. To 
translate the adjective form we use the word "prophetic. " Plain and 
simple, if we translate this "prophet " we use the wrong part of speech.

We can see from verse 25 that it could not be the Old Testament prophets 
through whom the new revelation of the mystery was made known. 
Therefore, who did write the "prophetic writings" ?

*Eph 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, *
*which from the beginning of the world *
*hath been hid in God,*
*who created all things by Jesus Christ*

Overcoming an Identity Crisis*
* by Dr. Bill Gillham*
Alumnae of Oklahoma State University and Texas A & M are known as 
Aggies, and we Aggies wear the label proudly. But someone in the course 
of time began making up "Aggie jokes." Take this one for example:

An Aggie alum was driving through rural Texas when he spotted a 
strapping young 18-year old boy trying to row a boat through a plowed 
field. He was bent to the oars, sweat pouring from his face. The Aggie 
stopped his car and strode over to the fence where he hollered, "Hey! 
What are you doing out there?" To which the kid replied with a grin as 
big as Dallas, "I' m on my way down to Texas A & M to enroll." "You 
idiot!" the Aggie screamed, arms windmilling. "here some of us are 
trying our best to create a better image for A & M, and it's idiots like 
you who give us a bad name! If I could swim, I'd come over there and 
give you a whuppin' !"

I believe Satan has millions of Christians chained to the oars of such a 
boat. It's bow is headed in the right direction and, although, the 
people are struggling to row it, the boat never moves. The name of the 
boat is the "Who-Am- I?" Of all people, Christians should not be the ones 
living in an identity crisis, overwhelmed with guilt, thinking their 
Heavenly Father is ashamed of them, and believing that God's acceptance 
is based on how they act.

Let me illustrate your identity this way: A squirrel buries a pecan, and 
in time a pecan sprout appears. As this sprout becomes two inches thick, 
four inches thick, ten inches thick, does it get pecanier and pecanier? 
Of course not; once a pecan, always a pecan. It doesn't undergo a change 
in its identity -- birth determined that. It simply becomes an 
increasingly more mature pecan tree until the Lord calls it home to 
pecan-tree heaven.

The metaphor holds a truth for you. As you set your mind on your true 
identity in Christ and as you act like Christ expressing His life 
through to accomplish His will on earth, can you become more righteous 
than righteous? More forgiven than forgiven? Holier than holy? Absurd, 
You can't get more of any of those awesome characteristics.

1 John 4:17 says, "...as [Christ] is, so also are we in this world."
1 Corinthians 3:17 says, "...for the temple of God is holy, and that is 
what you are."
Colossians 2:9-10 says, "...for in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells 
in bodily form, and in Him you have been made complete."

Your spiritual nature is Christlike. You are holy! You are complete! How 
can you improve on perfect? That is not to say that you are a perfectly 
finished product in Christ, but that you are a perfectly made product. 
That's who you are. That's your true identity as a Christian. So quit 
trying to row your way out of your identity crisis field, and believe 
what God says about you.
*THOUGHT TO PONDER 
The problem with the world and especially the Church today is its 
attempt to address the issues of the day from a purely humanistic point 
of view and not the Word of God.

MY ANSWER ABOVE IS TO THE STATEMENT MADE BELOW, AND I MIGHT ADD IT IS SO 
VERY TRUE. PARIS
I am stealing this saying from an evangelist who spoke at our church one 
night. He said sadly today many of the church members have just become 
similar to the couch potatoes they are pew potatoes. These are my words 
now. They are sitting there and not thirsting after righteousness, 
staring at their watch thinking it must have stopped the time is going 
to slow or wishing the sermon was over so they can go get something to 
eat. Really this is real it would be hard to find a church that it 
doesn't happen in.

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*

THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE*
*by C. R. Stam *

*"...the gospel... is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and 
bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of 
it, and knew the grace of God in truth" (Col. 1:5,6).

How wonderful to see the gospel of the grace of God do its work! Paul 
had never even seen the Colossians. He had only sent missionaries to 
them from Ephesus with the good news of the grace of God, but this had 
produced amazing results.

Wherever the gospel of the grace of God is preached in its purity it 
produces results. No one hearing that message can go away the same. 
Either he will consider it utter foolishness and be hardened by it, or 
he will see its vital importance and be softened by it. Ultimately he 
will either be eternally condemned, or eternally saved and justified by 
his response to that message.

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto 
us which are saved it is the power of God" (I Cor. 1:18).

"Christ crucified... unto them which are called... the power of God and 
the wisdom of God" (I Cor. 1:23,24).

"The power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Rom. 1:16).

Mark well: it is "the gospel of the grace of God," the "preaching of the 
cross," that produces such results. The law of Moses never did, "For 
what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh," God 
sent His Son to accomplish for us (Rom. 8:3,4). This is why Paul 
proclaimed, at Antioch of Pisidia:

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man 
is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that 
believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be 
justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38,39).

God’s message to us is a message of love, proclaiming to even the vilest 
sinner that he may be "justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the 
redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

*Lord God of my salvation,*
* thank You for the glorious message of the gospel.*
* What good news it is to have forgiveness, *
*eternal life,*
* and daily transformation through Your grace.*
* I embrace Your will that I bear much fruit.*
* Lord Jesus, I rejoice that You have taken me out from under the law.*
* I now look to You,*
* the risen Lord, to bring forth spiritual fruit in and through my life,*
* in Your exalted name, Amen.*

*GraceNTheTruth@ COX.NET*