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Our fellowship to the Father will be its closest when we are absented of the “old man” and the mortal body (Rom 8:11). But His fellowship to us is the same now as it will be when we are finally in His presence. It is not as assuring to know how He is taking us through this life as it is just to...

In one capacity or another every believer can and should maintain a perpetual amount of “joy” and “gratitude” if there is to be normal spiritual “growth” in the Lord Jesus (Phl 4:4; 1Th 5:18). It would be falsely sought in presenting cause to withhold these two cherished attributes toward God—as...

The Lord Jesus is not now on earth. He has ascended into heaven. What a very peculiar position then is mine hear! Sensible of the worthlessness of the first man, and of the absence of the Second. My own life—that of the first man, I have; the One I love—the Man who has glorified God upon the...

It has been wisely said that “the lost need saved, and the saved need delivered,” and “the Blood procures pardon for sin; and the Cross procures power over sin!” The Blood for our forgiveness (Eph 1:7; Col 1:14); the Cross for the old man’s restraint (still on the Cross - Ro 6:6; Gal 5:24), and...

Mark how distinctly Paul associates us with the Lord Jesus in Colossians 3:3. He said Christ is hid in God; well, He is your “Life” (v 4), and your life is hid there too. But the Lord Jesus is going to appear; and when He does, “ye shall also appear with Him in glory.” There is complete oneness...

The natural man (e.g. natural man as opposed to spiritual man - 1Co 2:14, 15), yet in the carnal mind (unregenerate – not the same as carnal babes in Christ - 1Co 3:1, 3) has only natural faith and not spiritual faith, which is “fruit” (work) of the Spirit – Gal 5:22. The unsaved are “carnally...

“Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest” (Heb 10:19). It is the happiest place; it is the home of the heart in the brightness if the Father’s presence. There is no place that I have such a right to, that I am so fully entitled to, as that position. There I find the Lord...

“Why” is more important than “how” in everything we do, especially concerning our service to the Father, and it’s when our motives are right in our serving Him that pleases Him the most. Regardless of the fact that our will is never to do anything with the wrong motive, we need to realize that...

“Christ is the head of the church” (Eph 5:23). The Lord Jesus is Head of the Body—such is His relationship to the Church; and how is He head of the Body? Not because He is the firstborn of all creation simply, nay, not because He is Creator of all, nor His headship of all creation as the “Heir...

The desire to know the truth concerning the concept of whether or not one can lose a redemptive position in the Lord Jesus is clearly the most popular spiritual growth doctrine among the New Testament teachings (which of course is a separate issue concerning receiving salvation). It’s clear that...

God would have His own to learn to be joyous as much as He enables us to be so (Phl 4:4; Jhn 16:24; 1Jo 1:4). For those choosing to remain unbelievers, the Gospel is a Sword of conflict in administering to them discouragement and separation from His Body (Mat 10:34); for the believer it’s the...

The three Nazarites, Shadrach, Mechach and Abednego walked with God in the king’s palace; and God walked with them in the king’s furnace. Is it not worth passing through a fiery furnace to enjoy more of the presence of the Lord Jesus, and the sympathy of His loving heart (Heb 4:15)? Is not a...

Since rebirth, believers have had the righteousness of the Judge imputed to them (not imparted, because He “is made unto us righteousness;” we are righteous but He is the righteousness - 1Co 1:30), and it’s in this they will eventually stand before His “seat”! Even though believers have security...

Aaah, the refreshing after the trial! I’m glad I’m learning to remember not to allow them to trouble me (Jn 14:1, 27), because there is more taught in going through freehanded than white-knuckling. I feel that I may sometimes still let it get to me a little too much, but I think the most...

There’s nothing more encouraging and comforting than realizing that at rebirth, believers have all they will ever require to be pronounced innocent before Christ’s judgment seat! I often wonder how many believers there are who may at least wish or hope that rebirth is permanent. One truth is...

With spiritual growth issues there can be varying beliefs, but only the doctrines that are settled in the “truth” will liberate you from disappointment (Jhn 8:32). Concerning the issue of receiving salvation, there can be no varying beliefs on the essentials of believing in the Lord Jesus’...

In all things, our Father teaches us to know the freedom we have available from now on in the Lord Jesus (but you’ve got to appropriate it in your conscience and walk). That is, the release of the old man’s incurred guilt and “dominion.” It’s the possession of the sin nature (“old” or original...

The majority of mankind dies “in” sin (Mat 7:13, 14), but Christ could only die “to” sin because He not only “knew no sin” but also “in Him is no sin” (2Co 5:21; 1Jo 3:5). It’s my belief that “made to be sin” is in the sense of “being made out to be sin”, (e.g. was made only in “the likeness” of...

The one great thought of the Holy Spirit in Philippians is to make known the Lord Jesus as the Servant (Phl 2:7; e.g. Mat 12:18; 20:28); and this He does, that He may produce in us truehearted service (Jhn 13:14). There is not a thought of our Father’s love but what we get in “the face of the...

The most understandable and encouraging attribute concerning salvation is that of its permanency, after all, it is called “eternal salvation” (Heb 5:9). What part of salvation is temporary, seeing that one of the meanings of redemption is that of being saved from “eternal damnation” (Mar 3:29)...