9. W. Μ., 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 5:7-13.) Here it is not our abiding, but the witness of God, and believing Him, or making Him a liar. 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. 1:19, 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, 18, it is the Son in the bosom of the Father.
1 Cor. 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.
No doubt, whatever is not in accordance with God’s word is harmful: thus the whole lump of modern Christendom is a leavened lump, and there is no remedy but purging ourselves from it, according to 2 Tim. 2:21; 3:1-5. “From such turn away.”
Eph. 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. 18:20, 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. 2:30.) See on this subject tracts just published: “From Egypt to Shiloh,” and sequel “Samuel,” G. Morrish, London.