Verse 7, our future? L. M. W.
Verse 13 is our place now in Christ Jesus, made nigh by the blood of Christ.
Verse 7 is where we are displayed with Christ in heavenly places in glory in the future ages; and this will show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us.
Wonderful indeed that sinners should be saved and fitted and brought into such blessedness! And to think of the love of the Father and of the Son already set upon us, and ours to enjoy for all eternity (Eph. 3:2121Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Ephesians 3:21)).
D. C.
Ans. Yet, it is unscriptural for a woman to take the place of a teacher of Scripture to teach men, but she can be a true servant of the Lord. "Help those women which labored with me in the gospel." Phil. 4:33And I entreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlaborers, whose names are in the book of life. (Philippians 4:3). The Lord used Mary of Magdala to carry a message to the brethren (John 20:1717Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. (John 20:17)). Aquilla and his wife Priscilla helped Apollos, a Jew, mighty in the Scriptures, to understand Christianity, and "expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly" (Acts 18:24-2824And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:24‑28)). Women can help in the gospel without leaving her womanly place and character. A meek and quiet spirit in the sight of God is of great price. In prayer with other women, and in private conversations with any one, the influence of the truth is felt. See also Luke 8:2, 32And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils, 3And Joanna the wife of Chuza Herod's steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance. (Luke 8:2‑3) in material things, also Rom. 16:11I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea: (Romans 16:1). Scripture does not say what her work is to be. She can find that out in communion with the Lord.
Ques. Please explain Matt. 20:1-161For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard. 2And when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. 3And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, 4And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. 5Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. 6And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? 7They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive. 8So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the laborers, and give them their hire, beginning from the last unto the first. 9And when they came that were hired about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. 10But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. 11And when they had received it, they murmured against the goodman of the house, 12Saying, These last have wrought but one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. 13But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? 14Take that thine is, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. 15Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? 16So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. (Matthew 20:1‑16). L. A. W.
Ans. From "Young Christian," Vol. 4, year 1914, page 73, "In this parable is shown the sovereignty of the Lord in calling and rewarding the laborers in His vineyard. It is not a question of obtaining salvation, for we do not labor for salvation. It is to teach us that the Lord is our Master. Peter had said "what shall we have therefore?" Here is the answer even to those who begin late in the day, "Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you." Laboring for Christ because we love Him, and trust Him, is better than laboring for reward. It is grace, not law. We love to do it because of His grace to us. He made us His.
Reward is encouragement to those who are serving Him with His approval. It is not the motive to lead us to serve. Those who bargained for the penny, received it. "What is right I will give you." They trusted Him. The assurance of reward is given when the Lord is the motive for the labor. If we get the reward as the motive for laboring, it falsifies the character of true service for Him. Then Peter and the disciples must learn that it is His to do with as He pleases, and therefore, many that are last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. It is the sovereign grace of God that is the source of true blessing.
Peter was called, and a place given him by the Lord.
Paul came in later on, as last, but he was a chosen vessel to unfold the heavenly mystery of Christ and the Church as a stronger testimony to grace, so the last was first, and the first last. Each has his place to fill as given by the Lord (Eph. 4:88Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Ephesians 4:8)). Again, notice, this is not salvation, but service after we are saved.
Ans. Both saved and unsaved persons are included here. We need to discern between those who are born again; and those who are still in their sins, and are therefore on the road to eternal judgment.
The unsaved live for self; that is the only life they have. The carnal mind is enmity to God: it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can it be. Deceived by the devil, they are trying to satisfy themselves without God, and in a measure they appear to enjoy the world. But how terrible the awakening when they meet God, and give an account to Him (Rom. 14:1111For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. (Romans 14:11)).
Sin's stamp is on everything, so that no one has lasting happiness. God has set eternity in man's heart, so that Christ alone can satisfy the soul (Eccl. 3:1111He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end. (Ecclesiastes 3:11). "World" there means "infinite"), and death is before them also, "What shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Mark 8:36, 3736For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 37Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? (Mark 8:36‑37).
Now, about the Christian! He also sows and reaps every day. The Christian is a man who has believed the gospel of his salvation. "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast." (Eph. 1:13; 2:8, 913In 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)
8For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9)). He is a child of God, and has eternal life (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36); 1 John 3:1, 21Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:1‑2)). He can never come into judgment (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); Heb. 10:1414For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. (Hebrews 10:14); 2 Cor. 5:2121For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Corinthians 5:21)). So that all who are in heaven, are sinners saved by grace, children of God, all alike members of the family of God, and members of the body of Christ (Eph. 5:3030For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30)).
Yet though thus blessed, we have the old nature in us as well as the new, what is here called flesh and Spirit. If we live to please ourselves, we are sowing to the flesh. If we are seeking, through grace, to please the Lord, we are living to the Spirit, and as we sow we shall reap. If we allow self to be our object, we lose our communion with the Lord, unhappiness comes in, and we may make shipwreck of our lives, through not holding a good conscience (1 Tim. 1:1919Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (1 Timothy 1:19)). We find many who are thus living; they marry unbelievers, join unions and societies, directly contrary to the Word of God (2 Cor. 6:1414Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14) to 18), and mingle with the world's efforts to be happy in other ways, and they already reap corruption.
The Lord will express His appreciation in the glory, of all we have done, and how we have lived. Enoch had it before he was translated (Heb. 11:55By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (Hebrews 11:5)) that he pleased God, and as far as He can give it, we every one will have praise of God (1 Cor. 4:55Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5)). So we find in Scripture, in the Father's house as children, we shall all be loved alike, but in the Kingdom display of glory, each one will have his separate place to fill. We see this in the Lord's teachings; such as the talents (Matt. 25), "Have thou authority over ten cities," "Be thou over five cities" (also Luke 22:29, 3029And I appoint unto you a kingdom, as my Father hath appointed unto me; 30That ye may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. (Luke 22:29‑30)). So that it means not only reward, but we are all sowing and reaping. If diligence gives us now the blessed abundant entrance "into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 1:10, 1110Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: 11For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:10‑11)), it is surely an incentive to make us careful not to sow to the flesh, but to the Spirit, so that we might enjoy now this eternal life (1 Tim. 6:1919Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:19)). J. N. D. Trans. calls it, "Laying hold of what is really life.”
The poor world, and sometimes Christians who want to see life, call it a good time; but the Christian has a good time already, for he has the privilege of feasting on the pleasures which are forever more (1 Tim. 4:88For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come. (1 Timothy 4:8)).