44. “A. G. Τ.,” Ontario. 1 Cor. 7:1414For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. (1 Corinthians 7:14) stands in contrast with the Mosaic enactment, which obliged men to put away, not only strange wives, but the offspring of mixed marriages, it is not a question of the practical state of the children themselves—whether they were saved or not saved; the passage simply states that the children were sanctified by the fact of their relationship with the believing parent, and need not therefore be put away. The idea of building upon such a, passage the monstrous error that the children of Christian parents are saved, as such, without the quickening grace of the Holy Spirit, is too gross to need a moment’s consideration.
45. “Ε. Α.,” Guernsey. Accept our best thanks for your kind note, and the extracts. The latter we have not yet had time to examine.
46. “E. J.” Aberdeenshire. Your three questions are met by one simple fact, namely, that the collection at the Lord’s table is for the Lord, whether to pay for the room where His people meet, or to help His poor, or to supply the need of His workmen. Of course, the assembly, as acting for Him, must be just before they are generous, and hence all righteous claims must first be met; and then think of the poor and the workers. Were our hearts a little larger, our Lord’s treasury would be better attended to, and there would not be much difficulty in knowing what to do with the contents.
47. “Spa.” 2 Cor. 5:22For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: (2 Corinthians 5:2)1 Contains the divine reply to your question. “He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” This is the glorious truth of God’s gospel. Christ took our place on the cross. He bore the judgment of God against sin. God forsook Him because he represented us on the cursed tree. Christ died the just for the unjust. He took our place that we might take His. He got what we deserved, that we might get what He deserves.
And now we are in Him, and as He is before God. Amazing truth! Glorious triumph of redeeming love! Nothing can surpass it. And hence we read, “Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world.” 1 John 4:1717Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17).
This is the perfection of love. Not even the love of God could go beyond this. We are in Christ, and as He is. We are loved as He is loved—accepted in Him. He is the definition of what we are in the presence of God. God thinks of us as He thinks of Him; acts towards us on the ground of what He is. As to our deserts, the cross is the answer. As to His deserts, the throne of the majesty in the heavens is the answer. Our deserts were His, that His might be ours. We are justified in a risen Christ, our sins having been put away, and sin condemned in the death of Christ. Such is the doctrine of scripture; and as to what theologians teach, it matters nothing to us. We desire to be taught exclusively by the word of God. We would bow down, with absolute submission, to its holy authority in all things.
48. “J. A. S.,” Plymouth. Your kind communication has come to hand. We entirely agree with your remarks as to singing.
49. “W. E. C,” Birmingham. Accept our warmest thanks for your truly kind letter and the accompanying extracts.
50. “J. L. R.,” Sunderland. In volume 15 of this magazine, page 178, you will find an answer to your question.
51. “J. C. R,” We have the fullest sympathy with your remarks.
52. “ T. R.,” Windermere. We have replied to the question of Judas in a former volume. See “ Answers to Correspondents” (1864-1866), page 3. Thanks for the lines; we like them much. If you have not got the little volume of Answers, you can procure it either from Mr. Broom, or from our publisher, Mr. Morrish.