Correspondence

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9. W. Îœ., Clapham. A life that can be forfeited is not eternal, but temporal. Eternal life is the life of the eternal One, Christ, and therefore can neither be forfeited, nor cease to be. Abiding in the love of Christ, or in communion with God, is not the same, as the witness of God—that he that believeth on the Son of God hath eternal life. “And this is the witness, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” (Read 1 John 5:7-137For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. 8And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one. 9If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. 10He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13These 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 5:7‑13).) Here it is not our abiding, but the witness of God, and believing Him, or making Him a liar. John 5:2424Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. (John 5:24), is true to the end. Love to the brethren is one effect of having eternal life; and hatred to them shows we have not got it.
Col. 1:1919For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; (Colossians 1:19), is the opposite of ancient and modern Pantheism, God in everything, or everything God. In the blessed Person of Christ “all the fullness [of the Godhead] was pleased to dwell.” Thus the incarnate Son is presented to us. Let us not acid a word, but adore Him evermore. Marvelous mystery, “God was manifest in the flesh.” In John 1:14, 1814And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)
18No 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), it is the Son in the bosom of the Father.
1 Cor. 15:2828And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all. (1 Corinthians 15:28), carries us on to that period when there is no further need of the mediatorial, or Messiahship of the Son: no more reign of righteousness, but when righteousness shall dwell, and God be all in all. He may be still to us, and to the universe, God manifest in the Son; and be ever known, and enjoyed by the Spirit.
Eph. 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6). “Accepted” is not quite the meaning of the word “Wherein he has taken us into favor in the beloved.” It is what God has done according to His eternal purpose, rather than what Christ has done. God has brought us into the same favor in Christ, as the place that Christ has in the glory to the Father; so that in this chapter Christ is seen subject to the Father, and accomplishing His purpose of grace to us. Oh, the riches of the glory of His grace!
We can only speak with holy reverence of the blessed Trinity; and it is always well to just limit our thoughts to the word of God—the Son, the object of the Father’s love. God is love. The Holy Ghost is God, We cannot doubt then, that He is love. Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20), is surely much more than “the assertion of his divinity” (Sadler, as you quote). He is present with the few now, and when gathered to His name, as He is not, with those who still remain in the organizations of men, and refuse to hear His voice, and to be gathered to Him alone. (1 Sam. 2:3030Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. (1 Samuel 2:30).) See on this subject tracts just published: “From Egypt to Shiloh,” and sequel “Samuel,” G. Morrish, London.