33. “G.,” Bournemouth. We are thankful to hear of your having been helped by the Paper on “ Election.” We hope you may have the Lord Jesus Christ increasingly before the eyes of your heart. When you lay aside doctrinal questions, and have to do with the Son of God, the risen and ascended One, who “made peace through the blood of his cross/’ according to the will of Him that sent Him, you will find comfort flow into your soul. The true ground of assurance is not what you feel, but what God says. Taking your place at the feet of Jesus, as a helpless, guilty sinner, hearkening to God’s word, and believing it because He says it, you will have “joy and peace in believing.” By Him (Christ) all that believe are justified from all things. You will then have liberty to live unto God.
34. “F.” There can be no question that every sinner that comes to God by Christ will be saved (Heb. 7:2525Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. (Hebrews 7:25)); it is also quite true that every one that believeth on the Son of God hath everlasting life (John 3:3636He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. (John 3:36)); and yet how few believers (perhaps from bad teaching) boldly confess that they are saved, and have everlasting life! Such are safe, and have life, but have not peace, and do not therefore enjoy communion, or the conscious favor of God. John tells us that he wrote his first epistle that believers might know that they have eternal life. (1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13).) When a believer is assured from scripture that he has remission of sins, that his old man has been crucified with Christ, that he is a child of God, accepted in the Beloved who is his life and righteousness, and that he has received the Holy Ghost the earnest of the inheritance, then he is, as you say, in the “conscious favor of God/’ and, in his measure, enjoys “ fellowship with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” This is communion.
The unpardonable sin of blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, and “a sin unto death” are, in our judgment, not the same. The former can only be by a rejecter of Christ, the latter gives the idea of an intervention of the Lord in His governmental dealings in removing one from the earth by death. Of the Corinthians it was said, “ for this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” These subjects have been repeatedly taken up in our “Answers to Correspondents.” We shall hope (D.V.) to reply to your other questions in our next issue.
35. “B.,” Ryde, I.W. We have heard of others lately who have had confused thoughts about “ the bride,” through reasoning on the subject instead of simply receiving God’s testimony in the written word. We have heard also of some who have been bold enough to assert that “the bride” in scripture always refers to the Jews. It is not a new idea, for we remember its coming up about twenty years ago. But let us turn to scripture, and may God’s voice be heard by us!
(1.) In the last chapter of Revelation, when Jesus presents Himself as “ the Bright and Morning Star,” we are told that “ the bride” says “ Come;” she also entreats those who hear to say to the Lord “ Come,” and, turning to the unsaved with the message of the grace of the gospel^ says, “ Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Now, where in Jewish scriptures is Israel’s hope said to be “ the Bright and Morning Star”? Instead of this, Is not Christ as “ Sun of Righteousness,” which comes after the “Morning Star,” the nation’s hope? (Mai. iv. 2.) Again, is not Christ as the Morning Star remarkably associated with Christians as their hope? (See Rev. 2:2828And I will give him the morning star. (Revelation 2:28); 2 Pet. 1:1919We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (2 Peter 1:19); Rev. 22:1616I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. (Revelation 22:16).) Besides, where in any part of Jewish prophecy is the nation, or the remnant found waiting for Christ and “holding forth the word of life” to perishing sinners around? Is not the remnant of Israel always seen crying to Jehovah to come down, and deliver them from their enemies by executing judgment upon them? We know that “Zion shall be redeemed with judgment, and her converts with righteousness;” but where is there an idea of judgment when the Lord Jesus Christ comes to take? is to Himself?
(2.) Does not “ the marriage of the Lamb’’ take place in heaven? (Rev. 19:1-111And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honor, and power, unto the Lord our God: 2For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 3And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. 4And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia. 5And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye his servants, and ye that fear him, both small and great. 6And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth. 7Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. 8And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. 10And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. 11And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. (Revelation 19:1‑11).)
(3.) In Rev. 21 The apostle has a vision of “ the bride, the Lamb’s wife;” and observe the relationship is not with Jehovah, but with the Lamb. It is “ the bride.” Her characteristics are heavenly: she descends from God out of heaven. Can this be Israel? Further, we are told that the bride, under the symbol of a city, has in the foundation of its wall, what? the Patriarchs? No, but “the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb/’ Are we not plainly told elsewhere that those saints who form the church “ are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets”? (Eph. 2:2020And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; (Ephesians 2:20).)
(4.) In the Epistle to the Ephesians we have three figures of the church, “one body,” “ a holy temple,” and that church which Christ loved. In “the church which is his body,” of which Christ is “ Head/’ we have clearly the union of members on earth with the Head in heaven—one body; the most beautiful idea of oneness, so that Christ could even speak to Saul of those on earth whom he was persecuting as “ Me.” In this figure, how-over, there is no room for others being united; but, in the building of a temple, we have growth as new stones are being added; there is room for increase, and for its being God’s habitation through the Spirit. But in chapter v. Christ’s affections are brought out. He “ loved the church, and gave himself for it.” We have also His present loving care of it, and that He is soon to ii present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.” It is that which occupies His heart’s affections. He is a model for the christian husband to copy: he is to love his wife, and nourish and cherish her, “ even as the Lord the church.” Precious truth! Yes, Christ loves the church as Himself. It is part of Himself; and “no man ever yet hated his own flesh.” Again, when speaking of the union of husband and wife, it is added, “ This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.”
It is strange that a Christian should be found bold enough to assert that Adam and Eve were not types of Christ and the church; for we are not only plainly told that Adam “ is the figure of him that was to come,” but, when the tenderest bridal affections are brought out, for our heart’s comfort, in Eph. 5, the very words are quoted which were used in Gen. 2, and applied to Christ. Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.....Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh;” and in Ephesians it is added,” This is a great mystery,, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Rom. 5:1414Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (Romans 5:14); Eph. 5:31, 3231For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. (Ephesians 5:31‑32); Gen. 2:22-2422And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. 23And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. 24Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Genesis 2:22‑24).)
With regard to Rebekah being a figure of the church (to which another directs our attention), it requires a little more study of scripture to perceive. No one, perhaps, who reads these pages would deny that Isaac on the altar, and Isaac coming to meet his bride, remarkably foreshadow Christ on the cross, and Christ coming to meet His saints in the air. It is striking also to observe that between these two events Isaac is testified of, but not seen; Abraham’s natural seed are not now on the scene, but come in after, though their future blessing is declared to be secured through Isaac’s death, and Jehovah’s promise and oath. We have also bereavement, burying the dead, buying and selling, money and merchants, answering pretty much to what the world is now. Besides these things, the great work done during this interval is a bride called out for him who in figure was dead and is alive again, and heir of all things. She hears of him, and her heart is taken up with one whom she has not seen. She is blessed, separated from country and from her kindred, and goes out to meet the bridegroom. She is kept and cared for every step of the way, and her hope is only realized when she actually sees Isaac, who meets her, and takes her to himself. (See Gen. 22-24) Whether this is typical of what is now going on between the death of Christ and His coming, the christian reader will judge.
36. “C,” Berkhamsted. The article has not been printed separately, but you are at liberty to do so.