The future ministry of The Chapel of the Opened Book will be largely occupied with

considering the distinctions that must be observed between the various commissions, but

will give particular attention to the commission and calling of the apostle Paul because of

the close relationship between the present dispensation and that last of all the

commissions, and the only one given by the ascended Christ, after all His earthly

ministry had been fulfilled.

Is there a danger in stressing the believer's full acceptance in the sacrifice of Christ?

Is there a danger in emphasizing that salvation is "not of works"? There is, if truth be not

presented in all its fullness. We must, however, refrain from putting out our hand to stay

the ark of God. We must not minimize by one iota either the completeness of redemption

or the believer's inability to provide the least contribution towards his acceptance.

Moreover, if we see a believer taking an advantage of grace in that he assumes that one's

"manner of life" is of no importance, we must yet be watchful that, in stressing his

responsibility, we neither reintroduce the fetters that redemption has for ever broken, nor

preach the once-offered Sacrifice with any reservations.

It is evident from the objection raised in Rom. 6: 1 that the Apostle had so preached

"grace without works" as to make it possible for the objection to be laid, "Shall we

continue in sin, that grace may abound?" but we do not find in that chapter any attempt

on the part of the Apostle to minimize the completeness of the offering of Christ. First,

he meets the objection with a vigorous, "God forbid!" and then proceeds to show that

every one that has accepted Christ as Sacrifice and Saviour, does so not only as if Christ

had accomplished an objective work done on his behalf, but as if it is a work with which

he must be identified, his language being, "How shall I that am dead to sin, live any

longer therein?" (Rom. 6: 2). In the subsequent argument of the chapter, it is clearly

stated that "His servants ye are to whom ye obey", and that those who have been made

"free from sin", instead of receiving license to spend their blood-bought liberty in the

pleasing of self, are free so that they may become "the servants of righteousness". It is

therefore untrue to assume that he who preaches the basic doctrine of the One Sacrifice

for sin is not alive to the moral issues that must arise therefrom.

Our thoughts have been directed to this aspect of truth by having to deal with the

problems relative to the Mosaic law of Sacrifice and Offering which certain passages in

the Psalms and the Prophets create.  It is easy to lift out and regard as sweeping

statements such words as "Sacrifice and offering Thou wouldst not", or "Incense is an

abomination" and so conclude that the whole system of sacrifice was thereby set aside,

and that nothing more was demanded of any man than that he "walk humbly" with His