Ques. What does "trimming" their lamps mean (Math. 25:7)? J. L. C.
Ans. The Kingdom bf heaven represents the profession of Christianity. In this parable, it is seen in the attitude of expecting Christ as the Bridegroom. Ten virgins with lamps or torches, went forth to meet the Bridegroom; five of them were wise, for they had oil in their vessels with their torches; five were foolish, for they had torches, but no oil to replenish the light. They were all to be lights (Eph. 5:8.)
"While the Bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept." They must have gone in somewhere, and mixed up with the world. The history of the Church tells us, "Thou dwellest where Satan's seat is" (Rev. 2:13), and there they lay for a long time.
Then at midnight came the cry, "Behold, the Bridegroom; go ye out to meet Him." This cry awakened them, and there was a revival of the truth -Christ as the Savior; Christ as the Head of His body the Church; the Bridegroom coming for His bride-truths for long years neglected. Our distinctive calling as belonging to Christ in glory; our privileges as holy and royal priests; children of the Father; members of the body of Christ; temples of the Holy Ghost. (See Eph. 1:22, 23; 1 Peter 2:5, 9; John 20:17; 1 John 3:1-3; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Eph. 4:4; 1 Cor. 6:19; John 14:16.) These truths and others, gave full assurance of faith and hope and understanding, and enabled Christians to look for the coming of the Lord with rejoicing as a blessed hope.
The foolish also became active, but all we see of them is they find their torches smoldering ("going out," margin) and they have no oil. They go to men to get it, but their efforts (and it is efforts the poor unsaved often depend on), were unavailing, for while they went to buy, the Bridegroom came.
If they had come to the Lord in time, they "would have had salvation as a gift, for "the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.' But they did not receive Christ as their Savior, and while the others went in to the marriage, they were left out; the door was shut, they were shut out to eternal woe. How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?
But the wise trimmed their lamps also. Every believer in Christ is ready, because he is a believer; he is sure to go when Christ comes (1 Thess 4:15-18.) He is born again, he knows his sins are forgiven; he has eternal life, the Holy Spirit dwells in him. (1 Peter 1:23; 1 John 2:12; John 3:36; John 14:16, 17.) The Holy Spirit is the oil.
But the believer may grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30) and he may fall asleep, or get into worldly company and ways. So Eph. 5:14 says: "Awake, thou that steepest, and arise from among the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee." And Rom. 13:11 says: "It is high time to awake out of sleep; for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." And in 1 Thess, 5:16, "Therefore, let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober." And in Luke 12:35, "Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; and ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their Lord." So we must endeavor to "walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." It is our privilege to have Christ filling our hearts with peace and joy, and thus be serving Him while we wait to see Him, and be with Him in glory.
Ques. Would like to understand more about the priesthood and advocacy of Christ. H. M.
Ans. In the tabernacle plan in Israel, Aaron was the high priest, and his sons were priests. The Levites served the tabernacle. All the rest were Jehovah's people.
In Christianity, Christ is the High Priest; each believer is a priest (1 Pet. 2:5); a servant (Heb. 9:14); a child of the Father (1 John 3:1); a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor. 12:13); a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19).
Aaron and his sons typify Christ and the Church as worshipers. In this sense, "He bears the iniquity of our holy things." Our mistakes in worship or prayer (Exo. 28:38). He is a priest forever after the order of Melchisedic; that is, unchangeable, for He ever liveth to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25); He made propitiation for our sins (Heb. 2:17); He succors us when tempted (4:14); and leads us to the throne of Grace for timely he'p; He has compassion for our infirmities; He suffered to be fitted for such a place (5:8-10); He is our forerunner within the wail (6:19, 20; 10:19-22); He was not a priest on earth. His is a heavenly priesthood (8:4); He appears there for us (9:24).
Speaking generally our Great High Priest maintains us before God as His people, and keeps us from turning away, which in Hebrew is apostasy.
Christ, our Advocate, is with the Father for us as children. We need this, and on the ground of His finished work. He is "Jesus Christ the righteous." "If any man sin," his advocacy is brought into exercise. Our very sins causes Him afresh to serve us. The Father desires us to be happy children, and if we grieve that other advocate, or comforter, the Holy Spirit, we become unhappy, thus He leads us to confess our sins (1 John 1:9), and that restores our souls, for "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just" to the work of his Son "to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness," and that means to help us to judge the cause of our failure. We need both forgiveness and this cleansing to be in happy communion with the Father. The Priesthood of Christ is therefore to strengthen us, and to help us to worship God acceptably, keeping us going on with Him through all the difficulties of the way.
The Advocacy of Christ is to maintain the failing one before the Father, and to restore him to happy communion, if he has failed.
Ques. Will you please explain 1 Tim. 4:14. "Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery "? K. W.
Ans. Paul, the apostle, tells Timothy not to neglect the gift God had given him for his service among the saints. (See also another instance. of this in Col. 4:17.)
Not alone was it given by God to him, but Paul was given a prophecy about it; and further, the presbytery, or elder hood, had laid their hands also on him, identifying them with his work, and showing their approval and fellowship with him in it. (See also 1 Tim. 1:18; 2 Tim. 1:6.)
Both Timothy and Titus were delegated by the authority of the apostle to set things in order in the assemblies, and to appoint elders. (Titus 1:5.)
We have no such authority now, to appoint elders or deacons, and since the Church, the house of God, is broken up into sects or denominations, which are carnal (1 Cor. 3:3), there is no place for them, but in the gatherings we find God raises up men who in love can do the work.