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November 20, 2008 "THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH" by Russell S. Miller Some suppose that somehow, in the final analysis, their "good works" will outweigh the bad works they do and God will accept them into His heaven. But is it good works that save? Of the first two children born into this world, Cain brought of the fruit of the ground--that, which his works had produced--with which to worship the Lord, while Abel, his brother, offered the sacrificial lamb that God required. "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh" (Heb.11:4). God rejected Cain's offering because he had not obeyed the Lord God. But a far greater sacrifice than Abel's has been offered on our behalf. "Christ died for our sins" (ICor.15:3). Now the question must be asked, Have you believed the Lord in this? As long as men continue in unbelief, and reject the Lord Jesus Christ as their Saviour, they will remain angry and bitter and wicked sinners in the sight of a thrice Holy God. Such are the deeds of those who place their will over the written Word of God, as their evil doings are reported daily over radio, TV and in our newspapers. But God is able to turn "the wickedness of men" into the greatest good, as we have seen. For, when wicked men crucified the Lord, little did they know "that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them..." (IICor.5:19). Little did they know, that this event in history--the crucifixion of Christ--would bring "to nought" all this world's wisdom. Little did they know, that God had a secret eternal purpose in Christ: "Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory" (ICor.2:8). Study God's Word, especially the Epistles of St. Paul, and discover that Christ IS the great Victor over sin, death, the grave, and hell. You will also be rejoicing in all that He accomplished on Calvary's cross--"the salvation, which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory" (IITim.2:10), and His "more excellent sacrifice", to which all the types and shadows pointed. "The preaching of the cross" constitutes the obedience of faith today. It is therefore faith, and faith alone, in the finished work of Christ that saves: "NEITHER BY THE BLOOD OF GOATS AND CALVES, BUT BY HIS OWN BLOOD HE ENTERED IN ONCE INTO THE HOLY PLACE, HAVING OBTAINED ETERNAL REDEMPTION FOR US" (Heb.9:12). To the Reader: Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface: "It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles." We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

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