25. “Α. Μ.,” Cheltenham. We do not know exactly what your difficulty is in Gal. 2:2020I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20). The passage sets forth a most glorious truth, namely, the total setting aside of the old Adam condition and the introduction of the new life in a risen Christ. “I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This is Christianity. The old man crucified; Christ living in the believer, and reproduced in his daily life. The Christian, according to the divine idea of him, is one whose former self is no longer recognized. It has no existence before God. The Christian himself is, alas! painfully conscious that he has his old self to contend with; but it is an immense relief to know that God sees that old self to be dead and buried, and that I can reckon it to be what God tells me it is. The great difficulty felt by souls as to this glorious subject arises from their looking at it from their own standpoint instead of God’s. This makes a great difference, indeed it makes all the difference. Christianity starts with the clear assumption that man’s fallen nature is not recognized at all. The first Adam is completely ignored, he is not recognized. But the first Adam is—if we may so speak—the old “ I,” which is said to be crucified. Nevertheless, there is a Second Man, and that is the new “ I,” which is said to live. There are but the two men in the entire history. The first is dead and gone from the divine platform. The Second lives in the presence of God, and the believer is part of Him. “ He that is joined to the Lord is one Spirit.” Thus the believer lives in Christ, and Christ in the believer. Hence, the apostle says, in another place, “To me to live is Christ.” All this is “by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” This, we repeat, is Christianity, and it stands in contrast with every form of human religiousness and fleshly pietism under the sun. It is not “the old man” turning religious, but the old man crucified, and the new man implanted and expressed by a lively faith. In a word, it is Christ our Life, we in Him, and He in us, and reproduced in our daily life by the power of the Holy Ghost.
26. “ R. M.,” Edinburgh. As to the question of Insurance, it must entirely depend upon a man’s faith. “We assuredly believe it is much better to trust in the Living God than in an insurance policy. But then it must be a real thing. It is a poor affair for a man to say he is trusting in God and therefore he will not insure his life, if he is not really in the truth and power of what he is talking about. It may often happen that a man refrains from insuring his life in order that he may have more to spend on himself, while he deceives himself by the mere profession of faith without one atom of reality. In the case of a mere man of the world, it is very commendable in him to curtail his personal expenses in order to secure something for his wife and family in the event of his death. But in the case of a Christian, he ought to be able to trust God. It is his privilege to do so, and God will assuredly answer faith. Insurance is not faith; but faith gives assurance. God is better than an insurance office; but God must be known in order to be trusted. There is no use talking about faith if one has not got it. Faith is a reality; mere profession is a sham. May God make us real!
27. “One who desires to do God’s will Bayswater. “We should suggest to you the immense importance of habitual waiting upon God in the prayerful study of the word. “God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1) May the Lord give you solid peace in Himself!
28. “X. N.” Scripture never speaks of “reconciling God.” The expression is a mistake arising from inattention to the true force of the word “reconcile,” as also the distinction between “reconciliation” and “atonement.” As correspondence to the word “you,” if you will turn to the passage, 2 Cor. 5:2020Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. (2 Corinthians 5:20), you will find it is given in italics, and is not in the original Greek at all. The apostle is not calling upon the Corinthian saints to be reconciled, but simply stating the form of the ministry of reconciliation. Wherever Christ’s ambassadors go they are to beseech men to be reconciled to God; but it would be out of place to beseech the children of God, saints in Christ Jesus, to be reconciled, inasmuch as they are already reconciled, and at peace with God through the precious blood of Jesus. We thank you for your kind letter.
29. “A Constant Reader,” Somerset., We render hearty thanks to God for the contents of your letter. We esteem it one of our richest privileges to be allowed to minister comfort and consolation to the beloved saints of God. We take it as a great kindness your writing to us. We deeply feel the importance of visiting those of the Lord’s people who are laid aside by illness and weakness. We consider it one of the most direct and positive branches of service to Christ—one, we doubt not, peculiarly precious to His heart. Most gladly would we seek to stir up the hearts of our brethren, who may read these lines, to a lively interest in this service, which we feel assured is ever fragrant and precious to our Lord Jesus Christ.
30. “G. F.,” Swindon. Thanks for your kind letter. The tract “Glad Tidings” is in the press and will, if God permit, be shortly issued. May He affix the seal of His blessing! We ask your prayers.
31. “F. G.,” Lee. We consider that Joel 2:2828And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: (Joel 2:28) had a partial fulfillment at Pentecost. Its final accomplishment is still to be looked for in the history of God’s ancient people. We do not doubt that God can speak to men now by means of a dream or a vision of the night; but we consider that the true and proper way for a child of God to be guided, is by the word and Spirit of God. It is very unsafe ground indeed to be merely guided by dreams or by the impressions of a man’s mind. We vastly prefer the solid imperishable word of God. Accept our warmest thanks for your truly brotherly letter. May the Lord speedily open a way for your friend.
32. “Μ. E.,” Reading. You need to be most careful how you act in the matter to which you refer. It is most solemn. Do not, we beseech you, allow your feelings to warp your judgment. “How can two walk together except they be agreed?” May God, in His mercy, preserve you from the snare of the devil!
33. “E. S.,” Chichester. We quite agree with you as to Shem. As to the universality of the deluge, Gen. 6:11-13; 7:19-2311The earth also was corrupt before God, and the earth was filled with violence. 12And God looked upon the earth, and, behold, it was corrupt; for all flesh had corrupted his way upon the earth. 13And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth. (Genesis 6:11‑13)
19And the waters prevailed exceedingly upon the earth; and all the high hills, that were under the whole heaven, were covered. 20Fifteen cubits upward did the waters prevail; and the mountains were covered. 21And all flesh died that moved upon the earth, both of fowl, and of cattle, and of beast, and of every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth, and every man: 22All in whose nostrils was the breath of life, of all that was in the dry land, died. 23And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground, both man, and cattle, and the creeping things, and the fowl of the heaven; and they were destroyed from the earth: and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark. (Genesis 7:19‑23); 2 Peter 3:5-75For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. (2 Peter 3:5‑7) are quite sufficient for us. We cannot see any object to be gained by questioning the fact of a universal deluge except indeed it be to pick a hole in the Bible, which alas! seems to be a grand object with all skeptics and rationalists. Oh! that men would learn to bow with reverence to the authoritative voice of holy scripture. It is the very highest wisdom so to do. 1 Tim. 4:1010For therefore we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe. (1 Timothy 4:10) speaks of God as “the Savior of all men.” We understand this to mean that God is the gracious Preserver of all, but especially of those who believe. God takes care of sparrows. (See Matt. 10:2929Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (Matthew 10:29).) It is not a question of salvation as regards the soul. You ask “In what sense is Jesus the Savior of all men?” and then quote 1 Tim. 4:11Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; (1 Timothy 4:1). Now we adoringly own Jesus as God over all, blessed forever; but the apostle is not speaking of Jesus in His saving work, but of God in His gracious Providence. Scripture is divinely accurate. You never find any distinction without a difference. We must ever remember this.