How then, we may ask, is the writing of Christ on the hearts of God's people to be kept clear and legible, so that, in the gathering of God's people the character of Christ can be manifest to all men?
The answer to this question brings us to the third great truth of the chapter. Christ will be manifested to all men only as we have before us the living Christ in the glory as our Object. So the Apostle writes, "We all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory" (vs. 18 JND). There is a transforming power in beholding the Lord in glory. This transforming power is available for all believers – the youngest as well as the oldest; "we all," not simply "we Apostles," beholding the glory of the Lord "are changed into the same image." This change is not affected by our own efforts, nor by wearying ourselves in the endeavor to be like the Lord. Nor is it by seeking to imitate some devoted saint. It is by beholding the glory of the Lord. There is no veil on His face, and as we behold Him, not only every veil of darkness will pass from our hearts, but morally we shall become increasingly like Him, changing from glory to glory. Gazing upon the Lord in glory we are lifted above all the weakness and failure that we find in ourselves, and all the evil around, to discover and delight in His perfection. As the bride in the Song of Songs can say, "I sat down under His shadow with great delight, and His fruit was sweet to my taste."
In the course of the Epistle the Apostle gives us a taste of some of this precious fruit. Turning to chapter 5, we read in verse 14, that "the love of Christ constraineth us." Here the love of Christ is presented as the true motive for all ministry, whether to saints or sinners. The greatest expression of that love was His death. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." Again we read, "Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it." With such love before his soul the Apostle can well say, "that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them, and rose again." In the light of this Scripture we may well challenge our hearts as to the motive that actuates us in all our service. Is it the love of Christ that constrains us, or is it the love of self? Are we living unto ourselves, or are we living "unto Him," and thus, like Him, willing to forget self in order to serve others in love. One has said, "Alas! how often have we to reproach ourselves with going on in a round of Christian duty, faithful in general intention, but not flowing from the fresh realization of the love of Christ to our soul" (J. N. Darby).
Passing to chapter 8, and verse 9, we come to another lovely characteristic of Christ. There we read of "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ." The Apostle is pleading on behalf of the poor Jewish believers, urging the richer Corinthian saints to help in meeting their necessities. In both verses 6 and 7, he speaks of giving as a "grace." Then he sets before us Christ as the One in whom we have a transcendent example of the grace of giving. He was rich, surpassingly rich, and yet to meet our deep needs He not only gives, but, such is His grace that, He becomes poor to give. "For your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich." By the incarnation He became poor, and His poverty is witnessed by the manger at Bethlehem and the humble home at Nazareth, and that, in the days of His ministry He Himself said, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay His head" (Luke 9:5858And Jesus said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (Luke 9:58)). To reach a poor fallen woman and bring heaven's best gifts to earth's worst sinners, He became a poor, needy, and lonely man by a well side. The very moment when He is enriching us with a fountain of water springing up unto eternal life, He Himself has become so poor that he has to ask for a drink of water (John 4:7,147There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. (John 4:7)
14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)).
Turning to chapter 10, and verse 1, we find some more refreshing fruit that marked the life of Christ. First we read of "the meekness of Christ." The Apostle is correcting the spirit of rivalry that had been working amongst the Corinthian saints, whereby some of the gifted servants were measuring themselves with one another, and seeking to commend themselves. So doing, they were walking in the flesh and warring after the flesh, glorying in their gifts, talking about themselves, boasting in their work, and belittling the Apostle. To correct their vanity and self-assertiveness, he brings before them the meekness of Christ who never asserted His rights, or defended Himself; who, when He was reviled, reviled not again. The chief priests may defame Him, but "Jesus held His peace." He is falsely accused before Pilate, but "He answered him to never a word." He is mocked by Herod, but "He answered him nothing." Good for us, if in the presence of defamation and insults, we could catch something of the spirit of the Lord and show the meekness that refuses to assert our rights, stand upon our dignity, or defend ourselves.
Then the Apostle speaks of "the gentleness of Christ," another lovely quality that He ever exhibited in the presence of opposition. Seeking to obey the word of the Lord and maintain the truth, we shall soon find that there are those who will oppose and raise questions that lead to strife. "The servant of the Lord must not strive" but seek to act in the spirit of the Lord and be "gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient." The gentleness of Christ speaks of the manner in which He acted and spoke. How often, with ourselves, even if our motive is right, and the principles we stand for are true, all is spoiled because our manner is lacking in graciousness and gentleness. Let us remember the striking words of the Psalmist, "Thy gentleness hath made me great" (Psalm 18:3535Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. (Psalm 18:35)). Our vehemence may easily degenerate into violence by which we belittle ourselves in the eyes of others; but gentleness will make us great. Violence draws out violence; but gentleness is irresistible. "The fruit of the Spirit ... is gentleness."
Finally, in chapter 12, and verse 9, we read of "the power of Christ." The Apostle is speaking of bodily infirmities, insults, necessities, persecutions and distresses. He learned by experience that all these things only become an occasion for the manifestation of "the power of Christ" to preserve the believer through the trials and lift him above them. Thus we learn that whatever the trial, His "grace is sufficient," and His "strength is made perfect in weakness."
Thus, with our eyes upon Christ in the glory, we are reminded by the Apostle of the perfections of Christ as He passes before us.
"The love of Christ",
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ",
"The meekness of Christ",
"The gentleness of Christ", and
"The power of Christ."
As we look at Christ in the glory and admire these lovely moral traits, set forth in all their perfection in Christ, we find His fruit sweet to our taste, and, almost unconsciously to ourselves, shall begin to exhibit something of His gracious character, and thus become changed into His image.
Thus the Holy Spirit not only writes Christ on the heart so that we become epistles of Christ, but, by engaging our hearts with Christ in glory, He transforms us into His image and so keeps the writing clear that it may be read of all men.
What a wonderful testimony it would be if the world could look upon any little company of the Lord's people and see in them "love," "grace," "meekness," "gentleness," and "power" that enable them to rise above all circumstances.
May we realize, in deeper measure, that it is the mind of God that His people should be the epistle of Christ to manifest Christ to all men, by having Christ in the glory before us as our one Object.
It is God's intention that in the lives of His people there should be a presentation of Christ "known and read of all men."