15. Request for Prayer.—“S. Ε. B.” writes, “As many of the Lord’s own have friends, near and dear by the ties of nature (but, should the Lord come at once, would be left behind) it is laid on my heart to ask for special, earnest prayer for such, through ‘Things New and Old.’ What mighty showers of blessing we should receive in our families, and among our friends, if the united cry of faith ascended as from one man!”
We gladly insert this request for prayer, though it is not exactly in our usual course of things; because we are assured of the need of the Lord’s people cultivating more earnest, persevering and believing prayer. When there is a full tide of prayer going up from our closets, with self-judgment and thanksgiving, then there will doubtless be more desire manifested for unitedly calling upon God.
16. H., Salisbury. Your letter duly received; we have forwarded it to the Publisher.
17. Wirksworth. Thanks for your kind letter. We rejoice to hear of the Lord’s gracious blessing to souls. May “the word of the Lord have free course and be glorified” in bringing many to God, through our Lord Jesus Christ. The paper your friend forwarded, though very interesting, is not suitable for this Magazine.
18. “Enquirer,” Okeford. In Gal. 2:1616Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. (Galatians 2:16), the apostle is treating of our justification in the sight of God, and shows that it is not by works of the law, but on the principle of faith, Christ being the object of faith. “We have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”
In verse 20 of the same chapter he is teaching about christian life—the practical, every-day life of one who is justified, that it derives all its resources from Another, because without Him, even those who are born of God, can do nothing. Hence says the apostle, “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.”
By “faith and love which is in Christ Jesus” in 1 Tim. 1:1414And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:14), we understand believing on the Lord Jesus unto salvation, which, when real, always works by love. Hence, “faith in Christ Jesus and love to all the saints,” are the two cardinal points of true Christianity. But when “faith” is spoken of in Rom. 3:2222Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:22), the subject being “the righteousness of God,” we are instructed that we are accounted righteous in God’s sight on the principle of faith, and entirely apart from law. “But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe.” (Rom. 3:21, 2221But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; 22Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: (Romans 3:21‑22).) The importance of a clear, scriptural apprehension of the doctrine of “the righteousness of God,” in these days of error and superstition, can scarcely be overestimated.
19. “W.,” Stockton-on-Tees. If in death the psalmist would fear no evil, and to him it would be but a shadow—“the valley of the shadow of death”—how much more boldly should the Christian, who has everlasting life, and is also united to Christ in glory by the Holy Ghost say, “ I will fear no evil?” Delivered by the blood of Jesus, now risen and ascended, from the sting of death, and the terror of death, he will surely prove the reality of the Savior’s words, “If a man keep my sayings he shall never taste of death.” (John 8:5252Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death. (John 8:52).) But the Christian may not die, or fall asleep in Jesus, “we shall not all sleep;” for the Lord Himself shall come, and when He docs, the living saints will be changed in a moment, and, with the raised saints who have died in Christ, be caught up to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thess. 4:16-1816For 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 4:16‑18).)
With regard to being “born of water,” it is well to observe that water is repeatedly mentioned in scripture as referring to the word, such as “the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:2626That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26)), and “now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you” in John 15:33Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. (John 15:3). Besides, when James writes on our being born again, he says “Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth.” (Jas. 1:1818Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. (James 1:18).) Peter also is conclusive on the subject, saying, “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.” (1 Pet. 1:2323Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. (1 Peter 1:23).)
20. “S.,” Sandgate. Your kind letter and enclosure received. We do not find in scripture the doctrine of the righteousness of Christ as often held. We read of the “righteousness of God,” and that Christ is “of God made unto us righteousness,” and again, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.” The idea that Christ by obeying and fulfilling the law wrought out a righteousness for us, is very contrary to the teaching of holy scripture. Our being accounted righteous, or “the righteousness of God” upon us who believe, is apart from law, and wholly of divine grace. It is not a certain quantity of righteousness put to oar account, but a state in which we are righteously accounted by God, in virtue of the God-glorifying work of Jesus about our sins. Hence it is always “the righteousness of God.” “He hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Cor. 5)
21. Kingston-on-Thames. Your kind communication has duly reached us. May we be more watchful for His “still small voice!”
22. Port Glasgow. The resurrection for the Great White Throne judgment, will not consist of a mixture of saved and lost, or of just and unjust. Scripture calls them “dead”— “I saw the dead small and great, stand before God.” (Rev. 20:1212And 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. (Revelation 20:12).) This resurrection is called by our Lord “the resurrection of damnation” or judgment, in contradistinction to the “resurrection of life,” or “the resurrection of the just.”
“The last day” in John 6:40-4440And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40‑44), is not the last day that will be on earth, because, as we have just seen, the Lord will reign over this earth for a thousand years after they are raised; it will be therefore the last day to such, because they leave days and time for a blessed and never-ending eternity.