“Counsel for the day of small things.” A correspondent has been good enough to point out that the initials subscribed to this article (B.M.M., July last, p. 154) should have been J.J.P., and not J.N. D. Will our readers kindly make the necessary correction?
W.D.— We have sent you an answer to your question. It is an important one, but hardly of a kind to discuss in these pages.
Enquirer. — “Jesus unites believers to God.” Is this statement scripturally correct? There is no scripture to confirm it as far as we know. On the contrary, the thought is opposed to the teaching of the word which continually speaks of the believer as being “in Christ,” but not “in Jesus” or “in God” (Rom. 6:3; 8:13Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? (Romans 6:3)
1There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1); 2 Cor. 5:1717Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. (2 Corinthians 5:17); Eph. 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: (Ephesians 1:3); and many other passages). “We are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 5:2020And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. (1 John 5:20)). But the Spirit ever avoids saying we are “in God.” So the members of the body are said to be the members of Christ (1 Cor. 6:15; 12:2715Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. (1 Corinthians 6:15)
27Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. (1 Corinthians 12:27)). It is true our “life is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:33For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)), but this is quite a different thing from the statement in question.
J.— Please explain the difference between the mercy and the grace of God. To make a brief distinction, God in His grace acts towards sinners in accordance with the love which He is. Hence the contrast between law and grace (see Galatians). Grace was therefore unknown till Jesus Christ, by Whom it came (John 1:1717For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17)). Mercy hover was displayed in O. T. times, for God acted even then in accordance with what man was in his need and sin. Thus, mercy flows from compassion towards a destitute condition, but grace is the exercise of a love which is infinite and uncaused. The father (Luke 15) in mercy would supply the needs of his prodigal son, but in grace he gave the best robe, the ring, the sandals, the seat at the banquet.
W.C.— Kindly explain the meaning of the middle clause of Luke 16:99And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. (Luke 16:9) “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness.” “Mammon” is a word taken from the Chaldee, which means riches. Beside being used three times in this context, it also occurs in Matthew 6:2424No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24). The lesson that the Lord was enforcing in connection with the preceding parable is that the children of God should use this world’s riches in such a way as to secure to themselves a future reward. To serve mammon while serving God is incompatible (verse 13); but to make friends with it is to ensure an eternal advantage to be realized in the habitations on high. This method of using money in view of a heavenly reward is shown in other places. “Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not” (Luke 12:3333Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Luke 12:33)). See 1 Timothy 6:17-1917Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 18That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 19Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. (1 Timothy 6:17‑19).
W.R.W.— We were thankful to receive your letter, and to hear you make a practice of reading the B.M.M. “in conjunction with the word of God.” We wish every one of its readers were like you in this respect. We have read with care your criticism upon C.G.H.’s verses (B.M.M. October last, p. 240); and we are quite at one with you as to the propriety of addressing the Lord with reverence. In this respect there is surely need for us all to grow. But we would not be hard upon the author of the lines. After all, in saying “It’s a pleasure to serve Jesus,” he is not speaking to Him but of Him. This does not justify the expression as strictly correct (Rom. 12:11; 14:18; 16:1811Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; (Romans 12:11)
18For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. (Romans 14:18)
18For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple. (Romans 16:18); Col. 3:2424Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:24)); but we did not consider it a sufficient blemish to disqualify it for insertion.
W.T.— Would those who were without the knowledge of God be unsaved (1 Cor. 15:3434Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (1 Corinthians 15:34))? Ignorance of God is generally the mark of an unsaved condition (Eph. 4:1818Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: (Ephesians 4:18); 1 Thess. 4:55Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (1 Thessalonians 4:5); 2 Thess. 1:88In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:8)). Here it implies the want of knowing the power of God in resurrection (Matt. 22:2929Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. (Matthew 22:29)); and, no doubt, refers to some among them who had crept in, teaching this false doctrine. In that case they would be such as are mentioned in 2 Peter 2:11But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. (2 Peter 2:1).