Correspondence: Matt. 10:22; Taking Part; 2 Cor. 3:17

From: Correspondence

Narrator: Chris Genthree

From: Young Christian: Volume 1, 1911

• 4 min. read • grade level: 6

Ques. 10. Does Matt. 10:22²²And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22), apply to the Tribulation period, or is it for the present time? H. G.

Ans. Matt. 10:5. 6, 7; shows that it is a testimony sent to Israel only, and that it is the gospel of the Kingdom, not the gospel that is preached now, but it will be resumed after the church is taken to heaven. Before the disciples get over the cities of Israel; the Son of Man will come.

As Son of Man He comes to Israel and the earth-and we, the heavenly saints, will come with Him. He is our Lord and our Bridegroom, He comes for us first. But there are general teachings true for us and for Israel. Matt. 10:22²²And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. (Matthew 10:22). "They shall be hated of all men for My name's sake", compare for us now, John 15:18-20¹⁸If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. ¹⁹If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. ²⁰Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. (John 15:18‑20); 2 Tim. 3:12¹²Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. (2 Timothy 3:12); 1 John 3:13¹³Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you. (1 John 3:13); we suffer for Him, Phil. 1:29²⁹For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; (Philippians 1:29); and with Him, Rom. 8:17¹⁷And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. (Romans 8:17).

“He that endureth to the end shall be saved." This primarily refers to faithfulness to Christ through the time of Tribulation. Saved, here refers to saved into the Millennial Kingdom.

We are exhorted to faithfulness also, "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." Rev. 2:10; 3:11¹⁰Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. (Revelation 2:10)
¹¹Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11); James 1:12¹²Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. (James 1:12).

There are many scriptures that bring before us that it is God's faithfulness and not our own, that keeps us true to Him. Phil. 1:6⁶Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: (Philippians 1:6); 1 Cor. 1:9⁹God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9); 1 Thess. 5:20²⁰Despise not prophesyings. (1 Thessalonians 5:20); 2 Thess. 3:3³But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. (2 Thessalonians 3:3); 1 Peter 1:5⁵Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5).

Ques. 11

Is it right for a young brother in a small meeting gathered to the name of the Lord to take part in prayer, or to give out a hymn? J. K.

Ans. When we are gathered together to the name of the Lord Jesus, we have His promise: "There am I in the midst of them". We must remember, therefore, that He is there; we are to wait upon Him. We are members of His body, He is our head; therefore the Head is to guide and control our actions. Each one who speaks, prays, reads or gives out a hymn, should be clear that the Lord is leading him to do so. Where this care is taken, it is a joy to all right minded persons when a young brother takes part; it is a great encouragement and help in a meeting when the brothers feel it their privilege to take part freely.

In taking part we must bear in mind what we came for, so that our hymns and prayers or worship will be in keeping with the character of the meeting.

When we come to remember the Lord in His death, our thoughts are generally led to His sufferings and to the love that gave Himself for us. If we read scripture it is to lead our hearts in that direction.

Ministry and prayer are reserved till the important point is gained and the Lord is remembered. Worship is the character of this meeting; deepest reverence becomes us in presence of His body given and His blood shed, as the symbols testify. A prayer meeting is for prayer and worship, to tell out our need as an assembly for all that burdens our hearts for Christ's glory.

A reading is to wait on the Lord for the ministry of His word to our souls.

We might take three scriptures to guide us: 1 Cor. 14:26²⁶How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26), "Let all things be done unto edifying"; 1 Cor. 14:40⁴⁰Let all things be done decently and in order. (1 Corinthians 14:40), "Let all things be done decently and in order"; 1 Cor. 16:14¹⁴Let all your things be done with charity. (1 Corinthians 16:14), "Let all things be done in love".

Avoid self-conceit; humbly wait on the Lord for His guidance. It is sad when a brother has a hymn or hymns ready as if he was determined to have his own way. Read Psalms 89:7⁷God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. (Psalm 89:7); Eccl. 5:1, 2¹Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil. ²Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few. (Ecclesiastes 5:1‑2).

Ques. 12

Please explain 2 Cor. 3:17¹⁷Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17). "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." R. B.

Ans. From 2 Cor. 3:7⁷But if the ministration of death, written and engraven in stones, was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not stedfastly behold the face of Moses for the glory of his countenance; which glory was to be done away: (2 Corinthians 3:7) to 16 is a parenthesis, teaching the exceeding glory of the gospel beyond the glory of the law.

The law was the ministration of death, but the gospel was the ministration of righteousness by the Spirit. A Christian is made the righteousness of God; 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); and has the Holy Spirit dwelling in him 2 Cor. 1:22²²Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:22).

In the 6th verse the apostle is speaking of the New Covenant, not of the letter that killeth, but of the Spirit that giveth life; 17th verse says "Now the Lord is that Spirit"; meaning, that He is the substance of all the figures and shadows which went before. If we see a shadow coming in view at a corner, we might say "some one is coming", but when we see the person, we cease to look at the shadow.

So now we have seen the Person, the substance, and the Holy Spirit has, through the work of Christ, set us at liberty; and points us to Him glorified; now with unveiled face we look at Him and as we gaze we are transformed into His image from glory to glory. It is by learning of Him that we grow like Him. Wonderful privilege through grace! Not only are we set free from the power of sin, and Satan, but we are at perfect liberty to enter within the veil, delighting our souls in the glorified One.

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