In Ephesians 2:13, 1413But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. 14For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; (Ephesians 2:13‑14) it is said, “But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off, are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For He is our peace.” This is precious! If Christ be our peace, it can never be lost. We may lose the enjoyment of it, but never the peace itself, inasmuch as Christ can never lose His peace with God. He is also said to be our righteousness.
“Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification and redemption” (1 Cor. 1:3030But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (1 Corinthians 1:30)). This is absolute! This is our condition in the presence of God in Christ. From such scriptures, faith will have no difficulty in answering the question as to the certainty and completeness of salvation.
Then comes the second question, What am I saved for? Surely to give my heart, unreservedly and undividedly, to the Lord; to care only for His glory, and for what will please and serve Him.
As we have no space to enlarge upon this point at present, we shall merely state the three grand positions or relations of the Christian, and leave the thoughtful to meditate on their privileges, blessings and responsibilities.
1. Every Christian is a child in the family of God. “For we are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Again, “Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will.” And this is, “To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.” But, as His children, He looks for us to “be holy and without blame before Him in love.” (Gal. 3:2626For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26); Eph. 1:4-64According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:4‑6).)
2. Every Christian is a member of the body of Christ. “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.” And this, too, in resurrection, where no change can ever take place; “For we are members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones.” Being thus livingly united to the Head in heaven, we are members one of another. “As we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office; so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.” (1 Cor. 12; Eph. 5; Rom. 12.)
While nothing can exceed the reality and blessedness of this vital union, it also involves the most weighty responsibility. We cease to be simply individual in our actions; the whole body is affected by our spirit and ways. This consideration ought to make every Christian most careful to act consistently with his relation to the Head and members of the body of Christ. “Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it” (1 Cor. 12:2626And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it. (1 Corinthians 12:26)).
3. Every Christian is a servant in the kingdom. It is through much tribulation that we enter into the kingdom; not so into the family, or the body, but into the kingdom. In Hebrews, service is connected with a purified conscience: “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit, offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” In Thessalonians we find it connected with conversion, and the hope of the Lord’s return: “Ye turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God; and to wait for His Son from heaven.”
In the parable of the pounds, the Lord blesses this truth most fully and distinctly before us, with its own rewards: “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have shown toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” But the character and fruit of our service will not be known until the coming day when all shall be made manifest. (Acts 14:2222Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. (Acts 14:22); Heb. 9:1414How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14); 1 Thess. 1:99For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; (1 Thessalonians 1:9); Heb. 6:1010For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. (Hebrews 6:10); 1 Cor. 3:12-15; 212Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. (1 Corinthians 3:12‑15) Cor. 5:10.)
May the Lord, in His great mercy, lead all who read these pages, not only to know for certain that they are saved. but also to know what they are saved for, and to act consistently as a child in the family, a member in the body, and a servant in the kingdom.
(Continued from Page 26.)