Correspondence: 24 Elders; Phil. 3:18-19; Matt.3:16; Spirit Like a Dove

From: Young Christian: Volume 19, 1929

Revelation 4:4; Matthew 3:16 • 5 min. read • grade level: 8

Question: Who do the four and twenty elders represent? (Rev. 4).

Answer: All the glorified saints from the beginning down to the coming of the Lord for His saints (1 Cor. 15:23²³But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. (1 Corinthians 15:23)).

As the saints are seen on earth in the second and third chapters, the rapture of the saints must needs be between the third and fourth chapters for them to be seen in the fourth chapter in heaven.

Question: Are the people described in Philippians 3:18, 19¹⁸(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:18‑19) real Christians, or only nominal professors? C. W.

Answer: The description would lead us to conclude that their Christianity was not real. Their end is destruction. We have the Word of the Lord that no true believer can ever be lost. John 5:24²⁴Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24) and 10:27-29 assure us that they are eternally secure. Then, all true believers in our Lord Jesus Christ are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Eph. 1:13; 4:30¹³In 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)
³⁰And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30); John 14:16, 17¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; ¹⁷Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17)).

But we must regard the warning. The Philippians were not to follow the example of these mere professors. They were to follow the Apostle’s example, as a man led by the Holy Spirit. Verses 17 and 20, 21 show that he was a heavenly man in his calling and character. He wrote, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (1:21).

There might be no outward evil seen in those in verses 18, 19, but their character was opposed to the cross of Christ, and they were living for themselves, and their end was destruction—they are earthly minded.

We may be sure, since such a warning is given to the saints at Philippi, that there was danger in following such, even if they were outwardly in communion at the Lord’s Table.

“Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Cor. 10:12¹²Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. (1 Corinthians 10:12)).

We must keep a good conscience before God, and confess our sins, and judge our ways, to walk in communion with the Lord; and this is our safety for this life (1 Tim. 1:5,19, 20⁵Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: (1 Timothy 1:5)
¹⁹Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: ²⁰Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. (1 Timothy 1:19‑20)).

In 2 Peter 1:9⁹But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (2 Peter 1:9), we have a slothful Christian who has even forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

In 2 Timothy 4:10¹⁰For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia. (2 Timothy 4:10), Demas, a companion of Paul’s, went back into the world.

In 2 Timothy 2:25, 26²⁵In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; ²⁶And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will. (2 Timothy 2:25‑26), some are mentioned who may be restored, or may not. “The Lord knoweth them that are His.” (2 Tim. 2:19¹⁹Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)). We are to have fellowship with those who depart from iniquity.

“Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1¹Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1)).

“He exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord” (Acts 11:23²³Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. (Acts 11:23)).

Question: What took place when the Spirit of God descended like a dove, and lighted upon Jesus? Matthew 3:16¹⁶And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: (Matthew 3:16). Was He from that time indwelt by the Spirit of God, sealed by the Spirit, and anointed by the Spirit for public service for God?

Answer: Yes, He was sealed (John 6:27²⁷Labor not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. (John 6:27)), and anointed (Acts 10:38³⁸How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him. (Acts 10:38)) at the same time. All His ministry was in the power of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 4:1; 12:28¹Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1)
²⁸But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. (Matthew 12:28); Luke 4:1, 14, 18¹And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (Luke 4:1)
¹⁴And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. (Luke 4:14)
¹⁸The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4:18)).

Besides He was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim. 3:16¹⁶And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. (1 Timothy 3:16)). In Him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily (Col. 2:9⁹For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9)). He was the Son of God with the Father “from the days of eternity” (Mic. 5:2²But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)).

But we are now speaking of Him as the Son of God in flesh, “That holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called Son of God.” Luke 1:3,5³It seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write unto thee in order, most excellent Theophilus, (Luke 1:3)
⁵There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. (Luke 1:5). A man on earth come down from heaven to do the Father’s will. He needed no redemption, He was Himself the Redeemer. He was sealed with the Holy Spirit, and declared to be the Father’s beloved Son in whom He was well pleased. And in Acts 2:33³³Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. (Acts 2:33), He receives the Spirit, the promise of the Father (John 14:16¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)), and thus shed forth what was seen and heard at Pentecost when the disciples were all baptized into one body. “The same is He that baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.” (John 1:33³³And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost. (John 1:33)). Matthew 3:13¹³Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (Matthew 3:13) adds, “and with fire,” that is, when He will act as judge.

Adam, the first man, was tested in the garden of Eden with everything about him that was good; then he fell, and was driven out of the garden. He became head of a fallen race.

Jesus, the second Man, the obedient one, was tested in the wilderness, with hunger and the wild beasts, but He was led of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of Satan (Matt. 4:1¹Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. (Matthew 4:1)). He was led in the wilderness by the Spirit (Luke 4:1¹And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, (Luke 4:1), see N. T.), and He returned in the power of the Spirit (Verse 14).

In this perfect obedience, He gave Himself up to be a sacrifice for sin, to die on the cross, was buried and rose again, and is now seated on high. He became Head of the redeemed race of heavenly ones, for every true believer now is a member of His body.

Now that we have believed the gospel of our salvation, we are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, the earnest of our inheritance. And He has given us the conscience knowledge of our place and portion as children (Rom. 8:15¹⁵For 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)), and as sons (Gal. 4:6⁶And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6)). The Holy Spirit is the power of our new life (Rom. 8:2, 9, 10²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:2)
⁹But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. ¹⁰And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (Romans 8:9‑10)). He is in us, the anointed (2 Cor. 1:21, 22²¹Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; ²²Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21‑22)), our power to discern the truth and for service (1 John 2:20, 27²⁰But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:20)
²⁷But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27)). He abides always with us (John 14:16¹⁶And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16)). Till the day of redemption (Eph. 4:30³⁰And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:30)). He will again dwell in us quickening our mortal bodies on account of His Spirit that dwells in us (Rom. 8:11¹¹But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)). And He will dwell in us when risen, for we are fashioned after Christ. Acts 1:2²Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: (Acts 1:2) tells us that Jesus had the Holy Spirit dwelling in Him when He was risen from the dead.

“Jesus the risen man acts and speaks by the Holy Ghost after His resurrection as before it. Precious token of our position, as reminding us that we shall have the Holy Ghost after our resurrection, and that being no longer engaged in restraining and mortifying the flesh, His divine energy in us will be entirely consecrated to eternal joy and worship, and to the service committed to us by God.” (Synopsis on Acts 1:2²Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: (Acts 1:2). J. N. D.).

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