Afterward That Which Is Spiritual

By A.B. Simpson

God often has to bring us not only into the place of suffering, and the bed of sickness and pain, but also into

the place where our righteousness breaks down and our character falls to pieces in order to humble us in the

dust and show us the need of entire crucifixion to all our natural life. Then, at the feet of Jesus we are ready to

receive Him, to abide in Him, depend upon Him alone and draw all our life and strength each moment from Him,

our Living Head. It was thus that Peter was saved by his very fall and had to die to Peter that he might live more

perfectly to Christ. Have we thus died, and have we thus renounced the strength of our own self-confidence?

We begin life with the natural, next we come into the spiritual; but then, when we have truly received the

kingdom of God and His righteousness, the natural is added to the spiritual, and we are able to receive the gifts

of His providence and the blessings of life without becoming centered in them or allowing them to separate us

from Him.

Grace Abounding In Paul’s Ministry

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and THE MINISTRY WHICH I HAVE RECEIVED OF THE LORD JESUS, TO TESTIFY THE GOSPEL OF THE GRACE OF GOD.”
–The Apostle Paul in Acts 20:24.

 

• “GRACEto you, and peace” (Rom.1:7);
• “Being justified freely by His GRACE” (Rom.3:24);
• “we have access by faith into this GRACEwherein we stand” (Rom.5:2);
• “the GRACE of God, and gift by GRACE…is by one Man” (Rom.5:15);
• “the abundance of GRACEand of the gift of righteousness” (Rom.5:17);
• “where sin abounded, GRACE did much more abound…that GRACEmight reign” (Rom.5:20,21);
• “for ye are not under the law, but under GRACE” (Rom.6:14);
• “not under the law, but under GRACE” (Rom.6:15);
• “there is a remnant according to the election of GRACE” (Rom.11:5);
• “if by GRACE, then it is no more of works; otherwise GRACE is no more GRACE…. But if it be of works, then is it no more GRACE” (Rom.11:6);
• “By the GRACE of God I am what I am; and His GRACE… was not in vain, but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the GRACEof God which was with me” (ICor.15:10);
• “that the abundant GRACEmight through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God” (IICor.4:15);
• “receive not the GRACEof God in vain” (IICor.6:1);
• “ye know the GRACEof our Lord Jesus Christ” (IICor.8:9);
• “God is able to make all GRACEabound toward you” (IICor.9:8);
• “the exceeding GRACEof God” (IICor.9:14);
• “My GRACEis sufficient for thee” (IICor.12:9);
• “I do not frustrate the GRACEof God” (Gal.2:21);
• “the praise of the glory of His GRACE” (Eph.1:6);
• “the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His GRACE” (Eph.1:7);
• “the exceeding riches of His GRACE” (Eph.2:7);
• “For by GRACEare ye saved, through faith” (Eph.2:8);
• “the dispensation of the GRACEof God… given me to you-ward” (Eph.3:2);
• “Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly…singing with GRACEin your hearts to the Lord” (Col.3:16);
• “the GRACEof our Lord was exceeding abundant” (ITim.1:14);
• “who hath saved us…according to His own purpose and GRACE, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (IITim.1:9);
• “Be strong in the GRACEthat is in Christ Jesus” (IITim.2:1);
• “GRACE be with you all” (Tit.3:15).

Which Works to Walk In

by Pastor Ricky Kurth

Every true believer knows we are saved by grace through faith, apart from good works (Romans 4:5; Titus 3:5). This does not mean, however, that good works have no place in the dispensation of grace, for right after affirming that we are saved without works (Ephesians 2:8,9), Paul quickly asserts that, as new creatures in Christ (II Corinthians 5:17), we are created to walk in the good works He has ordained for us (Ephesians 2:10). If you have ever wondered what kind of works God expects us to “maintain” (Titus 3:8,14) in our Christian walk, we hope the following brief study of the phrase “good work(s)” in Scripture will help.

For the Women

To begin with, in Acts 9 we meet Dorcas, a woman “full of good works” (9:36). She was evidently quite the seamstress, for her good works are later defined by a reference to “the coats and garments which Dorcas made” (v. 39). In those days, it could be said of many a virtuous woman that “she seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands” (Proverbs 31:13 cf. vv. 22,24). Thus we know that when a Christian woman performs the many duties of a wife and mother, she is walking in the good works in which she was created to walk.

To this must be added the testimony of the Apostle Paul, who speaks of widows who were “well reported of for good works” (I Timothy 5:10). He then goes on to describe things like bringing up children, hospitality, and caring for the sick as good works with which godly women can adorn themselves (I Timothy 2:9,10).

For the Men

In the natural accompaniment to these instructions to godly women, Paul instructs the man of God to “labour, working with his hands the thing which is good” (Ephesians 4:28). Well, if Christian men are told to work the thing which is good, wouldn’t going to work be a good work? You would think so, especially since God plans to reward men for “whatsoever good thing any man doeth” on the job (Ephesians 6:8).

We doubt that most Christians consider these everyday responsibilities as good works, but God says they are. And if being good husbands and fathers and wives and mothers be viewed as good works, it is not a stretch to suggest that being a good citizen would also be found in that category, especially since we are told “to obey magistrates” and, in so doing, “be ready to every good work” (Titus 3:1).

For the Rich

Next, Paul told Timothy to “charge them that are rich…that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate” (I Timothy 6:17,18). Obviously the financial support of the Lord’s work and less fortunate brethren also constitute good works in God’s eyes (cf. II Corinthians 9:6-8). While few of us are rich, all of us can participate in good works of this sort in some measure.

This then opens up a wide field in the category of good works, for we can give our time, our talent, and our efforts to the Lord’s work as well as our finances, and there are innumerable ways we can “do good unto all men, especially…the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

For Us All

In time past, rebuilding the temple was a “good work” (Nehemiah 2:18). Today God’s temple is found in the physical bodies of individual believers (I Corinthians 6:19,20), and in the Body of Christ (3:16,17), and so you would think that building up believers and local churches would be good works today. If ministering to the physical body of the Lord was considered a “good work” (Matthew 26:6-10), surely ministering to the Body of Christ would be as well. If the Lord defined “good works” as feeding the multitudes, opening the eyes of the blind, and helping the lame to walk (John 10:32), then surely “to feed the church of God” (Acts 20:28) by opening the eyes of their understanding (Ephesians 1:18) so they can “walk worthy” of their vocation (Ephesians 4:1) would be good works as well.

Since “all Scripture” is given that we might be “throughly furnished unto all good works” (II Timothy 3:16,17), then the reproof, correction and instruction of the saints mentioned here must also be considered “good works.” Of course, it goes without saying that “if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (I Timothy 3:1). In this passage, Paul is talking about the qualifications of a spiritual leader. Thus if a man is interested in doing good works, we believe the pastoral ministry tops the list of good works in which he can engage for the Lord.

So how about it, Christian friend? Are you walking in the good works you were created to walk in? It is your only hope of a happy, fulfilling Christian life. No creature of God is happy unless he is doing what he was created to do. Birds were created to fly, horses were created to run, and neither are happy when kept from doing what they were created to do. Your only hope for a truly satisfying Christian life is to be “fruitful in every good work” (Colossians 1:10)! What’s more, it is the only way to please the One “who gave Himself for us, that He might…purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14).

Disciples And Apostles

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

“And when it was day, He called unto Him His disciples: and of them He chose twelve, whom also He named apostles” (Luke 6:13).

Many people fail to distinguish between our Lord’s disciples and His apostles. They suppose they are the same. This is incorrect, however, for our Lord had a multitude of disciples while He had only a few apostles. His apostles were chosen from among His disciples, as we learn from the above message from Luke’s gospel.

A disciple is a follower; an apostle is a “sent one”. A disciple is a learner; an apostle is a teacher. There is a great lesson here for us all to learn.

We must come before we can go. We must follow before we can be sent. We must learn before we can teach. We must listen to the Lord before we can speak for the Lord.

“Thus saith the Lord”, was the familiar phrase with which the Old Testament prophets began their messages. But at the head of the long list of Old Testament prophets we find Samuel, a young lad, saying: “SPEAK LORD, FOR THY SERVANT HEARETH” (I Samuel 3:9).

Before we can do or say anything for God, then, we must listen to God. This explains why the reading and study of the Word of God is so important.

First, salvation itself comes by hearing and believing God’s Word, especially about Christ, and His death for our sins. Romans 10:17 says: “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God”, and I Peter 1:23: “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the Word of God, which liveth and abideth forever”. Then, having been saved, we can serve God acceptably only by diligent study of His Word. Perhaps the most important passage in the Bible on this subject is II Timothy 2:15:

“STUDY TO SHOW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD, A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.”

Salesmen And Soldiers

by Pastor Cornelius 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” (Ephesians 6:12).

This is why God’s salesmen must also be “good soldiers of Jesus Christ” (II Timothy 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”(Ephesians 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” (Ephesians 6:19,20; Romans 16:25, 26).

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

Sharing Right Division

by Pastor John Fredericksen

Do you remember how dispensational truth was first shared with you? This writer cannot think about rightly dividing God’s Word without remembering the wonderfully gracious way these truths were patiently shared with him and his wife. No one acted like they were superior to us, that they were smarter than we, nor did they attempt to attack key doctrines where we might disagree. No one sought to win a scriptural argument. We were not embarrassed by public questioning. There were no threats, implied or otherwise, that fellowship might be withdrawn if our convictions remained unchanged, nor was there any hint of frustration with our understandings.

Those who first shared dispensational truths with us did so as it should be done, in a gracious and godly manner. As the saying goes, “You can attract more bees with honey than vinegar.” So, those who ministered to us did so in an extremely loving manner. They followed the instruction Paul gave to Timothy: “The servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves” (II Timothy 2:24-25).

Nonetheless, there certainly was opposition on our part when these servants of the Lord began to shed new light on traditionally held doctrines. Yet, with tenderness, they put Colossians 4:6 into practice: “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” These discussions were frequent and sometimes lasted into the wee hours of the morning, but there was diligence on the part of these soldiers of Christ. Their method of ministry made the doctrines they believed in palatable to us. We thank God this was the approach that was taken with us, and it is probably the only one that would have worked. As we read this testimony, may each of us be encouraged to share dispensational truth with others and always be certain to do so in such a tender way that we “adorn the doctrine” we believe.

And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the

mind of the Spirit

By A.B. Simpson

The Holy Spirit becomes to the consecrated heart the Spirit of intercession. We have two Advocates. We have

an Advocate with the Father, who prays for us at God’s right hand. We also have the Holy Spirit, the Advocate

within who prays in us, inspiring our petitions and presenting them, through Christ, to God. We need this

Advocate. We know not what to pray for and we know not how to pray as we ought, but He breathes in the holy

heart the desires that we may not always understand, the, groanings which we could not utter. God

understands, and He, with a loving Father’s heart, is always searching our hearts to find the Spirit’s prayer and

to answer it. He finds many a prayer there that we have not discovered, and answers many a cry that we never

understood. And when we reach our heavenly home and read the records of life, we shall better know and

appreciate the infinite love of that Divine Friend who has watched within as the Spirit of prayer and breathed out

our every need to the heart of God.