Ques. What stand or position should a believer take? P. R. J.
Ans. The believer should take the Word of God as his guide, and be under the teaching of the Holy Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:12.) He is to find them sufficient for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, to furnish him unto all good works. (2 Tim. 3:16, 17.)
The Scripture showed him that he was lost, (Luke 19:10,) guilty, (Rom. 3:19,) dead in trespasses and sins. (Eph. 2:1.) In believing on Christ as his Savior, he was saved, (Eph. 2:8,) justified, (Acts 13:39, Rom. 5:1,) and no condemnation can touch him. (John 5:24, Rom. 8:1.) He now has everlasting life and eternal security. (John 10:28.) He is a child of God. (Rom. 8:16, 17; Gal. 3:26; 1 John 3:1.) The Holy Spirit now dwells in him. (John 7:39; 14:17; 1 Cor. 6:19; Gal. 4:6; Eph. 4:30.)
By the Spirit he is united to Christ, the glorified Head of the Church, which is His body, and he is a member of Christ. (1 Cor. 12:12, 13; Rom. 12:4, 5.)
So then he is a child of God the Father; a member of the body of Christ the Son of God; and his body is a temple of God the Holy Ghost. His behavior is to be regulated according to these. And the Lord is his High Priest to give him the strength and grace to live for Him, (Heb. 4:14-16,) and his advocate with the Father to restore his soul to communion if he should sin. (1 John 2:1.)
In reading the Word with prayer, he finds directions and help to live for Christ. (such as: Rom. 12:1, 2; Phil. 2:12-16.) He is not to grieve the Spirit, (Eph. 4:30,) but if he does, confession restores him. (1 John 1:9.) He is not to be "unequally yoked with unbelievers," (2 Cor. 6:14-18,) so he should not join societies with unconverted people; he should see that he does not take up with one who is not saved to be his future life partner.
He should also see that his associations in religious things are according to the Word. His membership was made by the Spirit when he was saved. Unconverted people cannot worship 'God aright. (John 4:23.) There is no joining of churches in Scripture. Matt. 18:20 tells us "Where two or three are gathered together in (or unto) My Name, there am 1 in the midst of them." This is the center where the members of His body can gather, and where they can therefore be and enjoy the presence of the Lord. See how happy they were in John 20:19, 20, the first meeting after Christ rose from the dead.
In. Acts 2:42. "They continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine," (or teaching,) that would answer to meetings for ministry or reading the Scriptures together. "And fellowship," this is given us increasingly as we feed on the Word. "And in breaking of bread," that is the sweet remembrance of Christ in death in the Lord's supper. Acts 20:7. lets him know that it was the custom of the early disciples to gather on the first day of each week for this purpose. (never once a month.) "And in prayers," this takes in meetings for prayer, as well as in private.
We find the professing church has departed from the Word in this and in many things, but the believer is exhorted to get back to the World, and thus to "earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered to the saints." And he is to be waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus to take His people home. This is his blessed hope. (Titus 2:13; 1 Thess. 4:15-18.)
To C. D.
Dan. 3:25. In the Old Testament the Lord appeared at times in different forms. In Gen. 18. He is a way faring man communing with Abraham the pilgrim. In Josh. 5. He appears as Captain of the Lord's host, giving instructions how to take Jericho. In this chapter He is a companion in tribulation, and a deliverer, while in it, from its power. The fire killed the men that put these three men into it, but over them it had no power. It took the cords off their limbs, and put them in the company of one like to the Son of God. Nebuchadnezzar did not know the Son of God. (It is literally "a son of the gods.") But how happy a place it was to be in. Was it not? They might be afraid before they were thrown in, but it was delightful to be in the presence of the Lord Himself. (Nah. 1:7.)
1 John. The features of God's children are seen in this Epistle, as light, love, obedience; righteousness, and faith; and are contrasted with the children of the devil, as darkness, hatred, disobedience, unrighteousness and unbelief.