“To this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit.” This is one of the most remarkable verses in Scripture. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.” What a contrast, the ‘high and lofty One, that inhabiteth eternity, dwelling with that broken-willed saint. You know you are the clay in the potter’s hand, and the thing is to be pliable enough. “Thou art the potter, we the clay.” We are in the hands of a mighty Potter, but One who loves us, and is keeping us in this way for what we are heirs to. It is ready for us – “ready to be revealed.”
In the 5th verse of the 4th chapter, there is a “ready” there too. “Who is ready to judge the quick and the dead.” Not only the inheritance ready for the Christian, but there is that Judge ready for the world. “Ready to judge the living and dead.” That means everybody, but not at the same time.
What is “the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ?” (ver. 13). Here we are as much the children of God, sons of God, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, as we shall ever be. What is that grace that is to be brought at the coming of the Lord? (it is the same word as appearing). The grace is receiving us into all that we are heirs to. You see that old saint walking with God fifty or sixty years, is at school, and he knows it – knows his need of it too, and he thanks God for it. These moral means are important, bringing us into communion – make us have to say to God as to the state of our souls.
That passage is quoted sometimes in an absolute way (and I don’t like to hear it) – “kept by the power of God.” It is “Kept by the power of God through faith.”
Well, the salvation that is ready to be revealed, is a salvation which will take us up, and set us in our inheritance – redeem the body – salvation by power – not by cost. The cost is paid. So that is why it says salvation is a future thing in the epistles. “Saved” not “by” but “in” hope, but hope that is seen is not “hope,” (Rom. 8:24-2524For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? 25But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24‑25)).
Then further on in the epistle, “Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” 13-11. That is, every day brings us nearer, and so constantly the salvation of God applies to and takes in the whole person – body, soul, and spirit. The Christian never has salvation, as God has purposed for him, until his body is redeemed, and that is the salvation we are speaking of.
The Lord has a work to do for us in His character as Saviour. “Our citizenship is in heaven from whence also we look for the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour” (in that character), “who shall change our bodies of humiliation” (Phil. 3:20-2120For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. (Philippians 3:20‑21) JND). In that way, you see, the Saviour has something to do for us yet. That is salvation by power – not by purchase. That is just a putting forth of power. That will all be accomplished when the time comes for it. As another Scripture tells us, “In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. . .”
In this salvation we “greatly rejoice.” “Rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:22By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2). “Though now for a season.” A season seems pretty long sometimes. You recognize God in these circumstances, and He is working in you both the willing and the doing of His good pleasure.
There is one great difference between the sons, and the Son. When I say the Son, I mean Christ. He was never under discipline. He never had a will to break. The object of God’s discipline is the breaking of our wills. The Lord never had any to break. So, in the 12th of Hebrews where you get the question of discipline, the Lord is left out. He was never under God’s chastening, disciplining, restraining hand. “Lo, I come to do Thy will.” “My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me.” All can be summed up in that way. The object is the subduing of our wills.
It is being under the yoke that works submission. We are all there.
“The Captain of our salvation perfect through suffering.” He can sympathize with us in our suffering!
We never get any sympathy in an unbroken will. That is where advocacy come in.
Do we have sufferings that are not for the purpose of breaking the will?
There you get a “wheel within a wheel.” For instance; Here is a poor saint whose heart is wrung to the innermost through the loss of a loved object. Well, there are two things; He says, “I have known what it is; I have known and felt the sorrow of having a loved friend under the power of death.” On the other hand, God uses that also to mold the will. Sympathy comes in in that way.
Or, in another way: “If ye are reproached for Christ’s sake.” “O, yes,” the Lord says, “I have known something of that.” “The reproaches of them that reproached Thee are fallen upon Me.” “The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up.” Suffering for righteousness’ sake. “O, yes, I know what that is.” That is the “wheel within a wheel.” God uses those very things to subdue us.
“Praise, honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ” (Ver. 7). God has the end in view. It is just like a teacher with a pupil. “I know that problem is a hard one, but it will be better for you in the end. My credit is at stake too.” So, the teacher labors with the pupil, and the pupil comes out brightly at graduation, and that pupil is a credit, and the teacher is a credit. “At the appearing” – the end. Then will be seen all the results of God’s dealings. The faithfulness and wisdom of the love of God will be seen. Why He sent this – why that was needed. We shall see then.
(Continued from page 25)
(To be continued)