No. 3.
STILL holding fast the great truth, that the Lord our God is ONE Lord, that the FATHER is God (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)), the Son is God (Rom. 9:55Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen. (Romans 9:5)), and the HOLY GHOST is God (Acts 5:3, 43But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. (Acts 5:3‑4)), yet not three Gods, but ONE God, let us now, with deep reverence of soul, consider the work of God―Father, Son, and Holy Ghost―in calling, instructing, disciplining and preserving us, from the first moment of the workings of Divine grace in us, until the actual redemption of the body, when we shall be like Christ, and with Him forever.
It was the FATHER that revealed His Son to us, and led us to Him for salvation. When Peter confessed, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God, Jesus answered and said unto Him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona; for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my FATHER which is in heaven.” (Matt. 16:1717And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. (Matthew 16:17).) Not only is it the purpose of the FATHER that all whom He gave to Jesus should come to Him, but we are further instructed that every man that hath heard, and hath learned of the FATHER, cometh to Christ. (John 6:37, 4537All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:37)
45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (John 6:45).) This is our heavenly Father’s love. How precious! He brings us to Himself, by revealing Christ to us.
The SON also draws to Himself. He said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all unto Me.” (John 12:3232And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me. (John 12:32).) The Son of God, who by Himself purged our sins, calls His own sheep, they hear the Shepherd’s voice, and He draws them to His own loving heart. He shelters them in His bleeding side, and assures them that He was wounded for their transgressions, that He was bruised for their iniquities....and that with His stripes they are healed. How blessed! Jesus dies for us, and then draws us to Himself.
‘Look to Me―thou art forgiv’n,
I have paid the countless sum!
Now my death has open’d heaven,
Thither thou shalt shortly come.’
Further: “It is the SPIRIT that quickeneth, the flesh profiteth nothing.” It is by the gracious operation of the HOLY SPIRIT in our souls, that we have been made to feel the ungodliness and depravity of our hearts, and to find righteousness and peace in a crucified and risen Saviour. “When the COMFORTER is come, He shall convince (margin) the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father.” (John 16:8-108And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; (John 16:8‑10).) How sweet to know that it is by the HOLY GHOST we have been brought to rest our guilty souls upon the blood of CHRIST, and thus find liberty and blessing in the presence of God our FATHER. “For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the SPIRIT OF ADOPTION, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.”
‘Praise the Holy Spirit’s love!
With our stubborn hearts He strove;
He reveal’d the Son of God,
And the value of His blood.’
Again we are taught that God’s people are the special objects of the care and ministry of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, all through their earthly pilgrimage.
The FATHER’S care is manifested toward us both spiritually and temporally. As the husbandman watches over, cultures, purges and prunes the vine, in order that it may be fruitful, so our heavenly FATHER exercises care and discipline over our souls; and He is glorified when we bear much fruit. The FATHER of spirits chastens and rebukes us for our profit, but with a heart of perfect love, as well as infinite wisdom. “Like as a father pitieth His children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear Him; for He knoweth our frame, He remembereth that we are dust.” It is our blessed privilege thus to know God as our kind, gracious, tenderhearted FATHER. Even in temporal things He would have us thus deal with Him, and reckon upon His never-failing care. “Behold,” said our Lord, “the fowls of the air; for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly FATHER feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to His stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow? they toil not, neither do they spin: and yet I say unto you, That even Solomon, in all his glory, was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, what shall we eat? or, what shall we drink? or, wherewithal shall we be clothed? (for after all these things do the Gentiles seek,) for your heavenly FATHER knoweth that ye have need of all these things.” And to encourage our confidence in asking and expecting blessing from the hand of our FATHER, our blessed Lord not only said, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your FATHER’S good pleasure to give you the kingdom,” but He also said, “Ask, and it shall be given you...for if ye, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your FATHER which is in heaven, give good things to them that ask Him.” Our Father, beloved, is “The Father of mercies,” “the Father of lights,” “the Father of glory,” the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, His Father and our Father, His God and our God. May we be more quick to discern the gracious hand of the FATHER, that we may lie more passive in His loving arms! May we, beloved, experimentally know more of “fellowship with the FATHER!”
The SON of God, also, ministers continually on our behalf. He appears in the presence of God for us. As our Advocate, He meets all the accusations of the enemy. He is our High Priest forever. He continually makes intercession for us. His presence cheers us. His sympathy comforts us. His finished work upon the cross establishes our souls in grace and peace. He is not a hard Master, yet He craves our grateful service. We know He is now preparing a place for us. We prove His shepherdly care, He loves us to lean upon His Almighty arm. We feel His absence, and look for His appearing; and we know full well that His fervent desire is that we may be with Him, to behold His glory. (John 17:2424Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24).) O for more felt fellowship with the Son of God!
The HOLY GHOST also dwells in us, and will abide with us forever. It is by Him alone that we can truly call Jesus LORD; by Him the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. He testifies of Christ to our souls, brings the word of Christ to our remembrance, guides us into all truth, chews us things to come. He leads our souls back into a knowledge of God’s eternal counsels in Christ, and the fulfillment of God’s promises in Christ crucified. He leads us up now into the Father’s presence, through the blood of the Lamb; and carries our hearts and minds onward to the return of Christ, to take us unto Himself. May the communion of the Holy Ghost be known in our hearts with more living practical power!
An intelligent apprehension of the work of God for us and in us, establishes our souls, and cheers our hearts; and blessed, indeed, it is to know that the Father’s love never alters, the Son’s matchless grace never declines, and the Holy Spirit, having quickened our souls, will carry on His work till our bodies are changed and fashioned like the glorious body of Jesus. “If Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you.” (Rom. 8:10, 1110And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:10‑11).) For this we now wait. “We,” said the apostle, “which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” “Blessed and glorious prospect! Jesus shall come in His own glory, and in the FATHER’S glory, the voice of the Sox OF GOD shall awake the saints in their graves, and the bodies of the living saints, as well as the dead in Christ, shall be quickened by the HOLY GHOST, and all shall be caught up to meet Christ in the air, and so be with Him, and like Him forever. (1 Thess. 4:16, 1716For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. (1 Thessalonians 4:16‑17).)