Correspondence

 •  6 min. read  •  grade level: 7
95. “Η.” Rotherham. We have, in some former number, replied to your question. We believe that Matt. 28:1919Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19) furnishes the proper formula for christian baptism. We are not aware of any subsequent revelation on the subject. “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” Here we have the full revelation of the Godhead—the true foundation of christian doctrine. We see no reason for departing from the form of words prescribed by our Lord Jesus Christ. Is not His commandment more binding upon us than the example of any or all of His servants?
96. “J. D.,” Newcastle-on-Tine. The “Synopsis of the Books of the Bible” would help you. Also “Lectures Introductory to the Gospels,” and on “the Epistles of Paul.” To be had of our Publisher or through any bookseller.
98. “S. Α.,” Crewe. We cannot agree with your friend in his thoughts as to the breaking of bread. The word used in every instance, to express the act of “breaking” is κλαω, which, if we are to be guided by Liddell and Scott, never means “to pierce.” In short, we can see no sort of sense or meaning in the notion to which you refer. It seems to us utterly baseless.
99. “R. O.,” Bengal. We take it that “the doctrine” mentioned in Rom. 16:1717Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. (Romans 16:17) is contained in the previous part of the epistle.
100. “J. C.” Near Stonehouse. It is often very needful in giving out hymns at gospel preachings, to offer a word of caution to those present in order to exercise their consciences as to what they sing. But at a meeting of Christians, we should deem it out of place to occupy time in expounding hymns. We must, however, beware of laying down iron rules. Let us cultivate simplicity and largeness of heart.
101. “J. C. M.,” Liverpool. Eph. 2:22Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (Ephesians 2:2)2 Contemplates those who were really builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. All true believers are living members of the body of Christ—living stones in the temple of God. Mere professors are neither the one nor the other. We must not confound the “Body” of chap. 1. with the “House” of chap. 2.
102. “Η. S. Î’.,” London. Thanks for the lines. As to your first question, it might be well to ask the persons who use the language to which you refer what they mean by it. It certainly is possible to be occupied with mere doctrine apart from Christ; and this, perhaps, may be what is meant. But we greatly fear that spirit of fault-finding, which leads people to! pick holes in everything and everyone except themselves. If we prayed more and talked less, we might be the means of doing some little good in our day and generation. We generally find that the fault-finding, hair-splitting generation are not the most blameless in their personal ways. The loudest talkers are generally the lowest walkers. Gal. 6:77Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. (Galatians 6:7) may contain an answer to your second question. It is a solemn enactment of God’s moral government. But grace can restore the soul, and lift us into higher communion than ever, as in Peter’s case. We must distinguish between grace and government.
103. “A Babe,” London. Luke 19:17, 1917And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. (Luke 19:17)
19And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities. (Luke 19:19) refers to those who, during Christ’s absence, have served Him according to their ability. Matt. 25:3434Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (Matthew 25:34) refers to those nations who shall receive the messengers sent to them just before the opening of the millennial kingdom. These are “the sheep.” On the other hand, “the goats” represent those nations who shall reject the messengers. “These my brethren” are the messengers who shall, as we believe, be from among the Jewish people. The Church is not in this scripture, though we know from other passages, that she will be associated with the Lord Jesus in all His glory and in all His doings. We do not at all view Matt. 25:31-4631When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: 33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. 37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. 41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels: 42For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (Matthew 25:31‑46) as a general judgment. It is the judgment of the living “nations,” before the millennium, as Rev. 20:11-1511And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11‑15) gives the judgment of the wicked dead, at the close of the millennium. The Church is not in either scene for judgment, for the simplest and most blessed of all reasons, her judgment is past and gone. Matt. 16:2828Verily I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom. (Matthew 16:28) refers to the transfiguration. The “some standing here” were Peter, James, and John. The saints slain during the tribulation shall have part in the first resurrection. Excuse our hasty reply to questions so interesting—questions, by the way, which we should hardly have looked for from one signing himself “A Babe.” The Lord make us all more truly babe-like!
104. “G.,” London. Your case is a very serious one; but not beyond the reach of God’s restoring grace. You will need to judge yourself thoroughly before God. We fear you have never had a right sense of the evil of your nature. Still, you have to do with infinite and everlasting grace—with mercy which stretches from everlasting to everlasting—with blood that cleanseth from all sin—and with a High Priest who is able to save to the utmost. May God, in His rich mercy, restore your soul and keep you from falling again!
105. “W. D. C.” You must, at all cost, seek to obey your Lord, and keep a conscience void of offense. Look to Him for strength to do His holy will. He will make your way plain, if your eye is single. Beware of tampering with conscience!
106. “A Weak Believer,” London. Phil. 2:1212Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:12) does not refer to eternal salvation; that, blessed be God, is infallibly settled and secured. But then there were difficulties, dangers, snares, and temptations surrounding the Philippian saints; and, when the apostle was with them, they naturally looked to him, and depended upon his wisdom, experience, and spiritual power. He therefore writes to them, exhorting them, in Ids absence, to work out their own salvation or deliverance, in the confidence that it was God who worked in them for the accomplishment of that end.
107. “F. B.,” Leeds. We trust you will kindly excuse our not answering your question. It is our fixed purpose to avoid all questions involving strictly local and personal matters. They do not suit the pages of a Magazine designed for general edification. Our friends will greatly oblige us by refraining from sending us any such questions.
108. “S. N. R.,” Waterloo. You surely must have made a mistake, dear friend, in requesting an answer in our October number to a communication bearing date the 27th of September. The fact is, your letter barely reached us in time to be noticed in our issue for November. We feel assured that there are roots in your heart which God is seeking to reach by the severe discipline through which you are passing. Wait on Him. Seek to go through the trial with Him, and you will most surely reap a rich harvest of blessing. Look at Hebrews 12:1-111Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: 6For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 8But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 9Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby. (Hebrews 12:1‑11). Here you find three ways of meeting discipline. You may either despise it; or faint under it; or be exercised by it. It is the last that yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness. You have our hearty sympathy and prayers, beloved friend. May God sustain and comfort you!