Correspondence

From: Christian's Library: Volume 3

Jam. 5, Mar. 6:13

London: ―If Christians exercised enough faith, would all disease be overcome? (James 5; Mark 6:13¹³And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. (Mark 6:13)).

The “faith-healing” theory is really based upon the mistaken supposition that all sickness is due to the individual’s sin. That this is not so is clearly proved by Philippians 2:25-30²⁵Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. ²⁶For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick. ²⁷For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful. ²⁹Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation: ³⁰Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me. (Philippians 2:25‑30), Epaphroditus was nigh unto death “for the Work of Christ.”

On the other hand, that in certain cases sickness was sent as a chastisement in God’s governmental dealings with His people Corinthians 11. as clearly proves― “For this cause (i.e., their course of unjudged sin) many are weak and sickly among you.” But here the remedy was not a sufficient amount of faith, but self-judgment because of the sin that had made it necessary for the Lord so to deal. ‘If we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.”

Then again in James (chs. 5:14-16) the cases supposed evidently include that of sin committed which, being judged and repented of, the prayer of faith on the part of the elders of the Church saves the sick, and the Lord raises him up. Remarkable cases of this kind are on record, where the power of God has come in most wonderfully. But much spiritual discernment is needful, for there are cases which we are distinctly told are sins unto death, and for these we are not to pray, for it is God’s intention to remove His erring child―a solemn case indeed (1 John 5:16¹⁶If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it. (1 John 5:16))

Further, there were cases where even an apostle who possessed a miraculous power to heal saw fit not to exercise that power for some reason not revealed to us―” “Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick” (2 Tim. 4:20²⁰Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick. (2 Timothy 4:20)). But the miraculous power given to the twelve was a special thing (Mark 6:7⁷And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; (Mark 6:7)), which pride and ignorance alone would arrogate to itself to-day.

We must not forget that we are at the close of the dispensation, and not at its commencement. Miraculous power to impress the mind accompanied the new testimony God was rendering at Pentecost. Now amidst the ruins of the Church saints are exhorted to “hold that fast which thou halt,” for “I come quickly” (Rev. 3:11¹¹Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. (Revelation 3:11)). That there is a sad lack of that faith, even as of a grain of mustard seed, that can remove mountains, is true, but so also is that loyalty to Christ in this evil day, which is manifested in keeping His Word and not denying His name (Rev. 3:8⁸I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:8)). May we learn to be less occupied with ourselves, whether our faith, or our holiness, or whatever else, and to be more set on pleasing Christ and contending earnestly for His glory, in obedience to His Word, and with humility of mind! ED.

Carlow: ― “What do you mean by breaking of bread? Is it not the same as Church Sacrament?”

It is always wise to cleave closely to the veritable language of Holy Scripture, and there we read nothing about the “Sacrament.” The Bible speaks of “the breaking of bread” (Acts 2:42, 46, 20:7), which is an expression taken from the action of the Lord Himself on the occasion of the institution of the Supper (Matt. 26:26²⁶And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body. (Matthew 26:26) Mark 14:22²²And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. (Mark 14:22); Luke 22:19¹⁹And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19)). The Lord’s Supper and the breaking of bread are the same thing (1 Cor. 11:20²⁰When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. (1 Corinthians 11:20) to end).

The Supper was instituted by our Lord on the night of His betrayal, and it was the privilege as well as the responsibility of His people to observe it until His return (1 Cor. 11:26²⁶For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. (1 Corinthians 11:26)). It was a thanksgiving service, and was to be the central act of Christian fellowship and worship (1 Cor. 10:16, 17¹⁶The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? ¹⁷For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. (1 Corinthians 10:16‑17)). Only true Christians, that is converted people, were to be partakers.

It is not a means of salvation, nor is it a sacrifice for sins, as many now erroneously hold and teach. It is simply the memorial of the sufferings and death of our adorable Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

It was the custom of the early Christians to come together on the first day of the week to break bread (Acts 20:7⁷And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)). We believe it to be still the duty of all true believers to gather together for this purpose. It is a sad sign of the coldness and indifference that has come over the people of God that they should esteem that to be of little importance which was instituted by their Lord on the night of His betrayal, which was reiterated from the glory (1 Cor. 11), and distinctly enjoined to be observed until His return.

“Oh, let Thy love constrain

Our souls to cleave to Thee,

And ever in our hearts remain

That word Remember Me!’”

ED.

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