IT is not what we can be in the way of fitting I ourselves for God that is the secret of our blessing, but the knowledge of what He has revealed Himself to be for us: God has made Himself known in Christ as seeking our blessing for His own sake. As we learn this, it lifts us beyond the thought of seeking to make ourselves fit for Him.
Legality sticks hard to us. It is that which is the slowest to die in the human mind. Some minds are peculiarly legal and always disposed to turn in upon themselves in some way, to look for that by which they may recommend themselves to God’s favor.
Satan does not mind what he holds our souls in bondage by, provided he can keep us in darkness and deprive us of the light and liberty of the Gospel, and hence of the enjoyment of grace.
The knowledge of grace alone can give liberty, and the enjoyment of it keep our souls in constant freedom. Grace is the attitude of God unchangingly toward us. He never changes. His attitude to us in Christ is not in the least affected by our weakness of apprehension even of His grace toward us.
Grace makes no demands. It supposes all the evil in us and looks for no good. It never imputes, but brings to us what our souls need. It is in the apprehension of this that we are enabled to appropriate the grace brought to us.
In Matthew 9 two things are brought before us: ―
FORGIVENESS.
POWER.
“Thy sins be forgiven thee.” Every soul that is pressed with the sense of guilt must feel the need of forgiveness. No relief of conscience is possible unless the knowledge of forgiveness is enjoyed. There could be no liberty as the result of power received, unless the conscience is cleared from all imputation or charge.
Nothing is of such vital importance to an awakened soul. “Thy sins be forgiven thee” released the palsied man from all his past obligations toward God.
The knowledge of God’s eternal forgiveness of all our sins for Christ’s sake, apart from merit in ourselves, brings peace to the troubled mind and joy to the heart.
The death of Christ has obliterated our sins forever. Because of this God will never call them up against us. “Their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” “I, even I, am He which blotteth out thy transgressions for Mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.”
Such simple words, if believed, would lift the burden from on us. These words let us know the mind of God about our sins. They enable the one who believes them to look up into the face of God and see His smile of love instead of what, we expected—the frown of His wrath.
All is perfectly clear on His side. What makes this doubly sure is that the One who bore our sins in His own body on the tree is now in heaven, and lives before the holy face of God without them. God always looks at Him, and therefore never sees our sins.
POWER.
It is remarkable that Jesus met the palsied man’s whole condition, and therefore He says to him, “Arise, take up thy bed, and walk.” What an astonishing thing it must have been to the people to see a man who had been carried to Him on a bed in helplessness, now go from the presence of Jesus carrying his bed! What a testimony that was to the power of Jesus as a Divine Person!
In this connection it is remarkable that when Peter announced the glad message, “To Him give all the prophets witness that through His name whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins,” that it immediately follows, “The Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.”
It is through the impartation of the Spirit that we receive power for walk and testimony. We have no power to carry that which carried us apart from the Spirit. He has been sent to dwell in all believers, that He might impart new life; and in the power of that new life we can live above what carried us away in the flesh.
“Ye shall receive power after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you,” said the Lord Jesus to His disciples ere He ascended to heaven. Universal testimony was to be the result. “This spake He of the Spirit, that they which believe on Him should receive.” Living water was to flow out from the assembly as the result of the new power.
When the power came on the day of Pentecost, what a marvelous effect it produced in those who received it, and also upon others through their testimony. How the disciples were lifted above the fear of a nation strong enough in power to crush them! How they were emboldened to charge home upon that nation the guilt of murder! This was a grave charge upon a religious people. But there was no power to rebut it; on the contrary, many went down under it, being convicted by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The assembly was called out, formed, preserved, and comforted by the Holy Ghost. Stephen, the first martyr, was supported by the Spirit, and so raised above the rage and malice of man that in the greatest meekness He submits to all the suffering put on him, and in the spirit of his Master said, “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge.” P. W.