Correspondence

 •  6 min. read  •  grade level: 7
15. L. Β.,Brighton. 2 Cor. 1:21, 2221Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; 22Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. (2 Corinthians 1:21‑22), as you say, speaks for itself as to its being God “which establisheth us.” Then there are three other things stated. “And hath anointed us.” If we compare this with 1 John 2:2727But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. (1 John 2:27), anointing is the teaching of the Spirit, or spiritual intelligence communicated to us— spiritual discernment, as in 1 Cor. 2:10-1510But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 13Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 14But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (1 Corinthians 2:10‑15). The natural man receiveth not this anointing: he has not the discernment of the Spirit.
“Who hath also sealed us:” the gift of the Holy Spirit after we have believed, as God’s witness that we are His. (Eph. 1:1313In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13).) In the days of the apostles, the gift of the Holy Ghost was very manifest. (Acts 2:3, 4; 10:44-46; 19:63And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:3‑4)
44While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (Acts 10:44‑46)
6And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. (Acts 19:6).) And though we have not the gifts that accompanied then, yet the seal of the Spirit should be far more manifest now than it is in all our ways. “The earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” This is the ever-abiding indwelling of the Spirit, the Comforter, that He may abide with us forever, even the Spirit of truth. (John 14:16, 1716And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. (John 14:16‑17)): “which is the earnest of our inheritance,” &c. All four aspects of the Spirit’s presence and operations are equally needed and blessed.
16. P. B. St. Austell. Rev. 14:6, 76And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 7Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. (Revelation 14:6‑7). This chapter is a brief synopsis of events. “Angel” in this book frequently denotes a heavenly messenger of God, chiefly to execute judgment. In these verses the messenger announces the everlasting glad tidings. Flying in the midst of heaven, having this gospel to preach to all nations, seems to indicate the great rapidity with which this gospel will spread over all the earth. The gospel of the church or assembly is only for a time, the period of gathering the church. That has ceased in the Revelation after the third chapter. This gospel refers more to the power of the Lord: compare the song of chapter 15. It will be glad tidings to the suffering remnant that God is immediately about to interfere in judgment on the wicked. This calls forth worship. God did act thus of old before the church was, and will so act again when it is gone. Then Babylon falls, judged forever. But oh, how solemn the fact that this Babylon is the proud Christendom around us, fast ripening for everlasting judgment! All is in contrast with the present time. Here we suffer, then we shall be in glory forever with the Lord. May He keep us from seeking to satisfy curiosity, but rather to profit our souls in all this.
1 Pet. 3:1919By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; (1 Peter 3:19): “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison.” This is evidently Christ in spirit preaching in Noah, at the flood, to those who were disobedient. Those now are spirits in prison, yes, in that prison in which the rich man lifted up his eyes, being in torment. (Luke 16) These are part of the dead, who will stand before the great white throne and receive the doom of the lake of fire. And let us not forget, that as it was in the days of Noah, so shall it be when the Son of man cometh.
18. Η. Τ., Chesapeake Bay. It is quite true there is a striking; difference betwixt the first marching; orders as given by our Lord in Luke 9:8-5 and 10:4, and the marching orders as given in Luke 22:35, 3635And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye any thing? And they said, Nothing. 36Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (Luke 22:35‑36). Indeed the latter is a reversal of the former. Yet both are perfectly consistent. In the former both the twelve and the seventy were sent to the cities and towns of Israel, to announce the glad tidings of the kingdom, and these were regarded as yet in relation to God. But in the latter case all such relation was cut off by the rejection of Jesus. It must be all free grace now, or immediate judgment. Whilst the relation of Israel continued the marching orders were to take no purse or scrip, but to acknowledge the relationship of Israel by partaking of hospitality. After the immense change as to Israel, the marching orders were to go to the whole world with the glad tidings of a giving God; but now they were to take their purse, and indeed “for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.” (8 John 7.) It is thus doubtful whether the person you name in Morocco is in this matter subject to the word of the Lord.
19. H. L., Rochdale. You are right, the atoning death of Christ is being set aside in every possible way by the teachers of this day. I do, indeed, pity the young men who are being taught “that the word of God tells men they have to keep the ten commandments in order to be saved.” I would beg of such young men to read the Epistle to the Galatians. Surely it needs no comment of man. It is the fullest and clearest statement of the word of God, that “if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Let the young men repeat those words of God over and over again. But read every verse in the fear of the Lord. And let them read Rom. 3. There they will find that they are all guilty, and it is too late, for those who are proved guilty, to be saved by keeping the law. To attempt it is to reject Christ, and to trample under foot His precious blood. Let them read what God says of Israel, who tried to be saved by keeping the law. (Rom. 9:3131But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (Romans 9:31) to 10:3.) And then read what is said of Christ. Tell these young men that their teacher is like one of these Jews, and is deceiving them, to their everlasting ruin. May God have mercy on this poor man. We hear his eyes have been opened.
20. W. M., Spaldwick. You will notice that the circumstances of Acts 5:13, 1413And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them. 14And believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.) (Acts 5:13‑14), and these last days are very different. At that moment the Lord had put forth His power in a most solemn manner: and great fear came upon all the church. Now, as is described in 2 Tim. 3 Pet. 2, and Jude, evil men and seducers have crept in, and it requires the greatest care and watchfulness to preserve ourselves, as described in 2 Tim. 2:20-2220But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:20‑22). It would therefore be most unscriptural now to throw open the door for any one to come to the Lord’s Table that liked, without the usual godly care. Eph. 2:1919Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; (Ephesians 2:19) refers to the true building of God, the holy temple of the Lord. It is not the great house of 2 Timothy; the whole church of God is that holy temple. A few gathered together represent the whole; though, as a fact, the church of God, composed of all saved persons now on earth, is sadly divided and scattered abroad, GOD’S GLAD TIDINGS.