THE believer has not only been delivered from the wrath of God, to which he was justly exposed, by the accomplished work of Jesus on the cross, but he is brought into the positive and present blessedness of partnership or fellowship with Him who is declared worthy of, or righteously entitled to, all glory, honor, riches, and blessing. Hence we read, "God is faithful, by whom ye were called into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." (1 Cor. 1:99God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1:9).) It is of immense importance that we clearly apprehend this. It is in Christ that God now beholds us. He says of us, "Ye are complete in Him." We are made one with Him by the Holy Ghost. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, and says of us, "As He is, so are we in this world." He calls us "children," "heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ," and says, "Ye are not in the flesh" as we once were, miserable sinners in the first Adam, but "in Christ." This is very simple, but God would have us consciously take possession of and enjoy these amazing blessings of divine grace now by faith, which we shall in unclouded reality when Jesus comes. No calling or blessings could be higher, no dignity could be greater, no gifts richer or fuller, than the place and blessings God has given us in Christ. Well might an inspired apostle exclaim, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
Making these blessings our own, and entering into the enjoyment of this fellowship with Jesus our Lord, is the true secret and power of practical godliness. No lower ground is the region spread out for our faith. The believer is supposed in scripture to walk by faith, not by sight—to live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved us and gave Himself for us. There must be this personal intercourse and acquaintance with the Lord Himself, if we would be like Him in our ways and walk. Most Christians long to be more like Christ, but how can it be effected except by occupation with Christ himself. Gazing upon Him, beholding the glory of the Lord, we are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord.
In Ex. 34, we find that "Moses' face shone"—it was radiant with glory, but "he wist it not." How was this? He was occupied with God, and not with himself. He had been in the mount with God. He had been in the brightness of divine glory, and it had made his face shine. We must know what it is to be in the presence of God if we would be really godly. Nothing else will produce it. Trafficking in mere Bible knowledge, with outward care for morality may be an imitation of it, but real, practical, Christ-like ways can only flow out of communion with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ; being in God's presence, where Jesus now is, by faith, and by the written word and Spirit having our minds permeated with God's thoughts, and our hearts under the transforming power of His love. Thus we shall be fruitful and godly. We may not be conscious that we are growing in grace and godliness, any more than Moses was aware that his face was shining so brightly; nevertheless, it will be so. God will always be with those who are with Him. "Them that honor Me, I will honor.”
Look also at Stephen in Acts 7. We are told that "he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God." Now mark, first, that when a man is full of the Holy Ghost, he looks up into heaven, and is taken up with that perfect man in the glory. The Lord Himself is the great attraction of his soul. Secondly, the result of being thus occupied with Christ is to become like Christ, so that you see Stephen with his latest breath praying for his cruel murderers, saying, "Lord Jesus, lay not this sin to their charge.”
From these instances, can there be a doubt but that great practical results must be connected with the soul really entering upon and enjoying this fellowship with the Lord Jesus, into which divine grace has called us?
But scripture warns us also against getting off this blessed ground of fellowship with the Lord, and drawing back through unbelief. Samson's history stands remarkably in contrast with Moses’ in this respect. A man of faith most surely, and God wrought wondrously with him by His Spirit, so that his name is among the mighty men of faith, as recorded by the Holy Ghost in the 11Th chapter of Hebrews. He was a Nazarite too—standing in the place of separation with God. But, after all the victories of faith, he got careless and carnal. He trifled with the truth, until at length he thought very little of the true place of separation to God, which as a Nazarite, he occupied. Delilah so attracted and ensnared him, that he so in heart departed from God as to fall a prey to her bewitching devices. At length, through her, he lost the locks of Nazarite separation, and then the solemn confession comes out, that "he wist not that God had departed from him." (Judg. 16:2020And she said, The Philistines be upon thee, Samson. And he awoke out of his sleep, and said, I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the Lord was departed from him. (Judges 16:20).) How peculiarly solemn this is! What searching lessons it reads us, and what earnest thrilling exhortations it carries to our hearts to abide in the Lord Jesus; that
“E'en as the branches to the vine,
Our souls should cling to Him.”
We are told that Samson had gone out as at other times. Before this, whenever he had sought God, God had always been his helper; but now he was openly before all a common man-he had lost his Nazariteship; he was no longer a separated man unto God. That ground had been trifled with and lost, and "he wist not that God had departed from hill." Now, mark what followed. He was unable any, longer to stand against the foe. He was taken captive, and then, his eyes were soon put out. He was bound with fetters of brass, and got so under the power of the ungodly that they made him grind in the prison-house, and then made sport of him. There was some recovery at last', but his end was destruction.
What a touching picture of the ways and wretched experience of a soul that has got away from the Lord. Happy to know that the word is still true that "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9).) May we, dear Christian readers, be kept in our only safe place of real felt weakness and self-abhorrence, clinging to Him who said "Abide in me.”
O Lamb of God, still keep me
Close to thy pierced side;
‘Tie only there in safety
And peace I can abide;
What foes and snares surround me,
What lusts and fears within;
Thy grace that sought and found me,
Alone can keep me clean.
'Tis only in Thee hiding,
I feel myself secure;
Only in Thee abiding,
The conflict can endure;
Thine arm the victory gaineth
O'er every hateful foe,
Thy love my heart sustaineth,
In all its cares and woe.