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7, Correspondence. (#231036)
7, Correspondence.
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From:
The Believer's Monthly Magazine: Volume 2
E.A.S.— Will you please explain
James 2:1
1
My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. (James 2:1)
?
Believers should not toady to rich persons. “Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ” means believing in Him as the object. (Compare
Mark 11:22,
22
And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. (Mark 11:22)
margin;
Romans 3:22
22
Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22)
;
Galatians 2:20
20
I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
;
Philippians 3:9
9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: (Philippians 3:9)
;
Colossians 2:12
12
Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12)
).
T.— Can you give any scripture to show that the Lord Jesus was the most beautiful person that ever walked this earth?
No; we cannot. We are told nothing of the human form of the blessed Lord, save in the most general way, as in
Isaiah 52:14; 53:2
14
As many were astonied at thee; his visage was so marred more than any man, and his form more than the sons of men: (Isaiah 52:14)
2
For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. (Isaiah 53:2)
. We ought to respect the silence of scripture and not seek to know Him after the flesh (
2 Cor. 5:16
16
Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. (2 Corinthians 5:16)
), but rather in a spiritual way as now risen. It is the sight of Christ by faith, as He now is, that transforms us morally into the same image (
2 Cor. 3:17, 18
17
Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:17‑18)
). All attempts of human art to depict the person of Christ, as He was, oppose this spiritual view, and should be shunned by us. The work of every artist must be purely imaginary, and it is always dangerous to speculate about the Incarnate Son of God, whether with pen or pencil.
E.G.F.B.— What becomes of the heathen who die without a chance to hear the gospel?
They will be judged according to the light they had (
Rom. 2:12-16
12
For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
13
(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.
14
For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:
15
Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)
16
In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel. (Romans 2:12‑16)
).
A.T.— May I try to answer the questions?
Certainly; we trust you will find the exercise helpful.
A. I. K.— What is meant by, “Until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts” (
2 Peter 1:19
19
We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19)
)?
The Christian period, during which we are waiting for the Son from heaven. Old Testament prophecy is compared to a light (lamp) shining in a dark place until the present interval, which is called the dawning of the day, when we have the day star (Christ our hope before He comes as the Sun of Righteousness) arisen in our hearts.
M.A.Y.— Is it possible for a believer to be without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit until he is baptized?
We do not think scripture warrants the thought that the indwelling of the Spirit is in any way a result of baptism. The latter is the appointed mode of confessing Christ before the world; sealing is God’s own sign of having appropriated a redeemed one for Himself. And while
Acts 2:38; 8:12, 17
38
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. (Acts 2:38)
12
But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. (Acts 8:12)
17
Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. (Acts 8:17)
speak of the gift of the Holy Spirit
after
baptism, in
Acts 10:44-48; 11:15-17
44
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
45
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.
46
For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter,
47
Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
48
And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days. (Acts 10:44‑48)
15
And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.
16
Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.
17
Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? (Acts 11:15‑17)
He was given
before
baptism. So that there is no necessary connection between the two either in order or significance. Such a state as you mention is possible, and perhaps more frequent than is generally supposed, but it certainly is not the Christian state described in the New Testament. For, in point of fact, no one can cry, Abba, Father, until the Spirit of God’s Son is sent forth into the heart (
Rom. 8:15
15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. (Romans 8:15)
;
Gal. 4:6
6
And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)
).
Does not the Spirit take possession directly a soul is born again?
Cornelius was born of God, for he feared God with all his house, and prayed to God alway (
Acts 10:2
2
A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. (Acts 10:2)
); but he nevertheless needed to hear words whereby he and his house should be saved (
Acts 11:14
14
Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. (Acts 11:14)
). After he had heard the word of truth, the gospel of salvation (
Eph. 1:13
13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13)
), the Holy Spirit fell upon him. As soon as we have the Spirit, He beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God (
Rom. 8:16
16
The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16)
). This is not always at the moment of the new birth. Read carefully the answers to A.B., page 23 of the number for last January.
M.R.— Please explain
Acts 19:1-7
1
And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples,
2
He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.
3
And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism.
4
Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
5
When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6
And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied.
7
And all the men were about twelve. (Acts 19:1‑7)
.
These disciples only knew the preaching of John the Baptist as to the coming Messiah. This they believed, confessing their sins, being born of the Spirit. But of all the facts that are narrated in the earlier chapters of the Acts they were ignorant, They needed to learn of a dead, risen, and ascended Christ. This gospel they heard from Paul, and as a token of their faith, confessed the name of the Lord Jesus in baptism, Then the Holy Ghost was given. See the above answers to M.A.Y, and say if you have any further difficulty.
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