10. “W. J. E.,” Swindon. The Old Testament saints will be raised at the same time as the church, namely, when our Lord shall come to receive His people to Himself. All the dead in Christ shall rise and the living saints be changed at that blessed and longed-for moment. 1 Thess. 4:13-1813But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13‑18) Cor. 15:51, 52.
11. “E. S.,” Shepherd’s Bush. You should wait, on the Lord to open the way for you to do His holy will in this matter. His word has shown you what His will is. Arise and do it, regardless of all consequences. We must take care how far we allow circumstances to hinder our doing the Lord’s will. He can and will make a way for us to keep His commandments, when the heart is true.
12. “E. S.,” Deeping. It is evident your own heart condemns you in this thing. It is all wrong. Nothing should induce us to do what we know to be contrary to the mind of God. Better far to disoblige ten thousand friends than disobey your Lord, or do violence to your own conscience. May the Holy Spirit strengthen you to act aright in this matter, and to tread with a firm step the holy happy path of obedience.
13. “J. D.” We should say, by all means, let the evangelist wait on God to enlarge his measure exceedingly, and to enable him to enter in at every door which the Master may be graciously pleased to open before him. We do not think Rom. 12:66Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; (Romans 12:6), applicable to the case you name. The apostle says, “Whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith.” The two things are quite distinct. No doubt, we must never attempt to go beyond our faith; but if the Lord has bestowed a gift upon us we should wait on Him for faith and grace to exercise that gift in whatever sphere He appoints.
14. “T. R.,” Near Coleford. In 1 Cor. 10—the apostle is seeking to touch the hearts of the Corinthians as to their moral condition and practical ways, and he appeals to them on the ground of that which was most likely to affect them, even the blood of Christ which is the basis of all our blessing. Hence it is, we have “the cup” first. The blood of Christ is made prominent, as that which sets forth His marvelous love. The regular, historic order, as in chapter 11, puts the bread first; but the apostle departs from this in order the more powerfully to move the hearts of the Corinthian saints. As to the word, “Lord” in connection with the Table, it is expressive of authority. It is never, as you rightly observe, termed, “The Father’s Table.” It is the Lord’s Table; the Lord’s Supper, the Lord’s Body; the Lord’s Death. Such is the divine way of putting things, and we must ever adhere to that, even though we may not always know the why and the wherefore.
15. “L. Η. T.,” Bidgeway. Sometimes, the Spirit of God may lead us to pray for a certain thing, with the fullest assurance that we shall get it; and He may lead us to wait on God, for days or weeks or months or years, in exercise of soul, not getting the answer, but assured that we shall get it. It is not a question of repeating, in so many words, our desire; but, the heart waiting on God for the answer. Then we have that lovely passage in Phil. 4: “Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.” And what then? “You shall get what you ask?” Perhaps not. It might not be good for us. But “the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall garrison your hearts and minds, through Christ Jesus.” Thus, you see, dear friend, we can lay down no rule, in this matter. There is great largeness and freedom in the way of the Spirit; and great breadth and fullness in holy scripture—so unlike our poor narrow thoughts!
16. “J. C,” Stonehouse. You are perfectly right in your judgment as to Gen. 9:66Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:6). It stands unrepealed. The law did not touch it; the gospel does not touch it. It abides in all its solemn force, as an enactment of the government of God; and if we in our wisdom or tenderness attempt to touch it, we simply make ourselves out to be wiser and more tender than God. We must not confound the grace of the gospel with God’s government of the world. Christianity does not interfere with the arrangements of divine providence. It teaches Christians to act in grace toward all; but to apply the principles of the gospel to the government of this world, would throw everything into confusion. And, further, dear friend, what have we, as Christians, to do with sending petitions or remonstrances to the government? Nothing whatever. We have to pray for the government, and to obey it; or to suffer, if it calls upon us to disobey God. But to interfere with its enactments, is practically to deny our heavenly citizenship. And, in the case to which you refer, to attempt to hinder the course of justice, is to fly in the face of God’s own direct command, “Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed.” Where has this command been repealed? Nowhere. Hence let Christians beware how they attempt to tamper with it, under the influence of natural feeling or sentimentality. We dare not add, of Christian principle, because true Christian principle will ever lead us to bow to the authority of the word of God, though we cannot exactly understand it, or reconcile it with our own feelings.
17. “A. S. S. B. G.” Your difficulty arises from not distinguishing between God in His eternal essence—God as a Spirit; and God as revealed in the Person of the Son. One class of passages refers to the former; another, to the latter. You are perfectly right, dear friend, in judging that all scripture is in perfect harmony with itself. Would that all felt more deeply the force of this. It would save a vast amount of perplexity and confusion. It is a good thing, when we meet with an apparent discrepancy in scripture, just to wait on God for the solution.
18. “J. L.,” Bishop Stortford. Accept our hearty thanks for your most kind and encouraging letter. We earnestly pray that the Lord Himself may be with you, filling you with the joy of His presence, and giving you also to taste the rich privilege of communion with those who love His name.
19. “W.,” Newport. In John 14:2727Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. (John 14:27) there is a difference between “Peace I leave with you,” and “My peace I give unto you.” The former is peace through the finished work of Christ; the latter is the peace which He Himself enjoyed. He shares everything He has with us, save His Deity, which is incommunicable. What a marvelous thing to possess the very same peace which our Lord Jesus enjoyed as a man on this earth.
20. “G. E.,” Waddesdon. Thanks for your truly interesting letter. May the Lord of the harvest grant copious showers of blessing upon your labors in the gospel. May you be abundantly encouraged to persevere in the glorious work till He come.
21. “B. F. Q. R.” The teaching is utterly false. You are quite right in your thought that a new nature is, in every case, required. “Ye must be born again.” The expression, “Spirit, soul, and body,” takes in the whole man. It is fatally false to teach that “every man has in him a germ, which only needs education and development.” We have nothing in us by nature but what is vile. “In me, that is in my flesh, dwelleth no good thing.” We are by nature dead in trespasses and sins—children of wrath—enemies—sinners—ungodly—without strength. Such is the teaching of scripture, unto which we do well to take heed. We are not surprised, dear friend, at your being, as you say, “fairly puzzled,” if you listen to such teaching as that from which you quote. We should strongly advise you to fling all such rubbish aside, and listen to the voice of God in holy scripture; and then, instead of being fairly puzzled, you will be fairly delighted, blessedly edified, and richly comforted.
22. “One of the Flock.” We thank you heartily for your most loving little note. May the great Shepherd and Bishop of souls feed and comfort you more and more by His ever living and powerful ministry.
23. “W. B.,” Alberta. (1) Matt. 18:15-1815Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 16But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 17And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. 18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 18:15‑18), refers to the discipline of the assembly, which is called into action if the offending brother will not hear the two or three witnesses. (2) Quickening and sealing are two distinct actions of the Spirit. He quickens dead souls, He seals living believers. Obviously, there must be an interval between the two actions, it may be longer or shorter. The action of sealing is connected with the soul’s entrance into the knowledge of accomplished redemption—entire deliverance through faith in a risen and glorified Christ. “In whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed.” Compare John 7:3939(But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.) (John 7:39); Acts 19:1-61And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. 4Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 19:1‑6). (3) Those saints who have fallen asleep are not, for the time being, counted of the body. Disembodied spirits could not be viewed as members of a, body. Besides the church is on the earth where the Holy Ghost is. It is a popular error to speak of the church triumphant, and the church militant, meaning, by the former those who have gone to heaven; and by the latter, those who are on the earth. Scripture never so speaks. How could we think of the various “gifts” as applied to heaven? No need of gifts there. The church is on earth for the present. By and by all who have ever formed a part of the body will appear with the Head in glory.
24. “G. T. A.” We most fully endorse every sentence of your valuable letter. It is indeed a grave moral mistake, to say the very least, for young people to speak in slighting or disparaging terms of their elders, or indeed of any. Christian parents should discountenance it in every possible way. We should go much further than you do, dear friend, in the way of suggesting a remedy, for we consider that we should never at any time, either in the presence or absence of our children, allow ourselves the habit of speaking of the failures and infirmities of our brethren. If we have nothing good to say, let us have recourse to the mantle of charity or the curtain of silence; and, in addition, to the hallowed remedy of loving intercession.
25. “T. G. H.,” Bowdon. You must distinguish between the church as the body of Christ, and as a responsible witness for God in the earth. In the former there can be no failure, no ruin, thank God; in the latter, there has been gross failure and all is in hopeless ruin. Is the church of the present in any way like the church as we have it in the New Testament? Surely not. It has fallen sadly. Look at the addresses to the seven churches, Rev. 2 and 3. What means the call to “repent” if there was no failure? Further you must distinguish between what Christ builds and what man builds. He says in Matt. 16 “Upon this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” To apply this to what man builds would be a grave error and a deadly delusion. This is precisely what Rome has done, and others have followed in her wake. Man builds with “wood, hay and stubble,” and most surely the gates of hell will prevail against such.
Finally, as to the question of the church’s sphere, where is it said to be in heaven? True, Christ our life is there, our citizenship is there; our home is there. We are in spirit and by faith there; seated in the heavenlies in Christ. All this is true to faith; but surely, dear friend, earth is the sphere of the church’s responsibility in service and testimony. Is not the Holy Ghost forming the church? And is not He on the earth? Most surely, from the day of Pentecost to the moment of the rapture, the church is on earth; and those who have left the earth are not viewed for the present, as of it.
26. “Μ. M.,” Bridport. This is indeed the day of the Lord’s long-suffering with the world; but there is also such a thing as God’s government of the world which must not be forgotten.