Correspondence

 •  5 min. read  •  grade level: 7
30. “C. Τ.” Jesus said, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” (John 1:1818No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. (John 1:18).) Again, we read that “God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son [or in the Son], by whom also he made the worlds” (Heb. 1:22Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; (Hebrews 1:2)); so that we are taught that the Son was with the Father before the worlds were framed, for God made them by the Son. We have thus His eternal Sonship as before the worlds, and His eternal Godhead in making the worlds. We are taught that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world; so that it was the Son and not the Father who came to save the lost, though in dying for sinners He did the Father’s will; thus showing distinction of Persons in the Father and the Son. And so the Holy Spirit, who is called God, and manifests divine attributes, is sent by the Father and also by the Son. Moreover, the Holy Spirit, though on earth as sent down from heaven, is also a distinct Person. He did not send the Son, or die for us like the Son; but, though distinct in personal actings, and each manifesting divine attributes, yet it is clearly revealed that there is only one God. This the Spirit of God alone can reveal to the soul, and He will do so to such as can receive His word as a little child; for He hath hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hath revealed them unto babes. “No man knoweth the Son but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.” (Matt. 11:25-2725At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. 26Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. 27All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him. (Matthew 11:25‑27).)
31 “S.,” Ipswich. There is only one society for the Christian recognized in scripture; it is the church of God. No membership of anything else is there found for the Lord’s people besides “members of Christ.” “We are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.” This positive side of divine truth should be enough to deter us from becoming a member of anything else. But we have more than this. We are solemnly charged to keep in a path of separation from unbelievers. This is a sufficient answer to the question as to co-operative and all other societies, where members are made up of both saints and sinners. “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers; for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” (2 Cor. 6:14-1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18).)
32. Margate. We heartily praise God for the blessing you speak of through this little serial. The “whole armor of God” is described in Eph. 6:1414Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; (Ephesians 6:14) and following verses. By faith we put it on, and use it when in conflict with wicked spirits who seek to hinder us from standing in heavenly places, where the grace of God has set us in Christ. We may therefore call this armor our battle garments. Putting on the Lord Jesus Christ is spoken of in Rom. 13 in order not to make provision for the flesh and its lusts; such, then, are consciously in Christ, and not in the flesh. The breastplate of faith and hope, and helmet of salvation, might be called our testimony garments, for faith, hope, and love are the three cardinal points of Christianity. Whereas the putting on as the elect of God, holy and beloved bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, forgiving, and, above all, loving, which is the bond of perfectness, we might speak of as our walking garments.
Christ being of God made unto us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)), is blessedly true, through the grace of God, of every believer.
33. “A Sinner.” The person you describe is unquestionably taught of God, born of God, and therefore one of God’s elect; because, as you say, she takes her place before God as lost, believes that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and the true Object of faith. “Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” (1 John 5:11Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1).) And again, “As many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” (John 1:12, 1312But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12‑13).) It is equally true that such have died with Christ and are risen with Him. But peace, and the enjoyment of the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free may not be known. For these precious blessings to be realized the soul must be led of the Spirit to take its place before God in virtue of the atoning blood of the Son.