The Bible – Its Blessedness
The Scriptures give us divine intelligence about everything necessary to completely furnish the believer unto every good work. Do I inquire what God’s present ways on earth for blessing are? I learn from His word that He is calling out and forming a bride for His own Son, whose heart is set upon her as His own body, and who “nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord the church”; and that this will go on till we hear the “shout” and are caught up to meet the Lord in the air, and so are “forever with the Lord.” Do we inquire as to the Jews? We still find the “outcasts of Israel – the ten tribes are cast out, no man knows where; and the two tribes are still “dispersed” among the nations, fulfilling the Scriptures of the prophets as to their state; and one now and then believing the gospel, and forming part of God’s assembly. If a question be asked about the European nations, which once formed part of the Roman empire? According to the Word of God by Daniel, we learn that all is going on to the development of the ten kingdoms before divine judgment falls upon them. Does any one inquire whether Scripture tells us anything about Protestantism? Most surely; it is referred to in the epistle of the church at Sardis, and is described as having a name to live and being dead. Protesting against error may be with those who are quite devoid of faith in God’s revealed truth concerning His Son, and therefore such have not life – “He that hath not the Son of God hath not life” (1 John 5:1212He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:12)). And it would be impossible that such a huge system as Popery, established on the earth for so main, centuries, should be omitted in God’s Word written for our instruction; we find, therefore, much in Scripture concerning it, and what is so striking, it stands in the end of this age in rival antagonism with infidelity; and it needs but little spiritual discernment to see how rapidly this ill-feeling and fear of each other is growing. Nevertheless, as before observed, the result must be that the infidel power will be too strong for the Papal power, and will spoil and destroy this unchaste woman. (Rev. 17:16-17; 18:816And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. 17For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled. (Revelation 17:16‑17)
8Therefore shall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire: for strong is the Lord God who judgeth her. (Revelation 18:8)). The great whore may include all in Christendom who are untrue in affection to the Lord Himself. Thank God not one child of His can be lost, and He knoweth them that trust in Him.
With regard to the church, or assembly of God in the true sense (which is doubtless the most blessed testimony, that ever emanated from God, and the workmanship of the Holy Spirit), it must abide forever, because each true believer is by one Spirit united to Christ in ascension as a member of His body, and is always an object of His care and blessing. On the other hand, the assembly looked at as God’s corporate witness on the earth, it has terribly fallen from the Pentecostal character of blessing and power in which He set it. Too often it is a witness of division, carnality, and strife, instead of keeping diligently the Spirit’s unity in the uniting bond of peace, through holding the Head, subjection to the word, and owning the presence and power of the one Spirit for all true blessing and unity.
And so with our open Bible we can look around on every hand, and see things just as they are set forth there for our guidance and instruction. One thing is certain, that while God looks for individual faithfulness and separation to Himself, and will always honor few or many who are really gathered to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, yet He gives no hope of the reconstruction and return of unity in general of His assembly on earth; but enjoins us individually to purge ourselves from vessels to dishonor, and be with those (if we can find them), who call on the Lord out of a pure heart (2 Tim. 2:19-2219Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honor, and some to dishonor. 21If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work. 22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:19‑22)).
And further, not only are we told that “God... hath in due times manifested His word through. preaching,” but it is also written, “Thou hast magnified Thy word, above all Thy name” (Titus 1:33But hath in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Saviour; (Titus 1:3); Psa. 138:22I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. (Psalm 138:2)). So that, because Scripture is God’s Word, it assures us, without any question, of what is His mind and will concerning us. By it every one who has truly looked as a lost sinner to the Lord Jesus Christ as the object of faith and trust, is assured that his sins are forgiven, and blotted out forever. “To Him [Christ] give all the prophets witness, that through His name, whosoever believeth in Him shall receive remission of sins:” and “their sins, and iniquities will I remember no more” (Acts 10:4343To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:43); Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17))
Such know, also, on the authority of the Scriptures, that they have eternal life given to them, and that they possess it. We never find an apostle saying, “I feel that I have this and that, and because I feel it I know I have it.” Never; because feelings quickly change, and the word never directs us to look at our feelings for evidence, but at what God says. Now what does He say about the present gift of eternal life? He says, in John’s first epistle, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” He does not say here that you may feel it, but know it; know it on the authority of God’s Word, which we are told was written that we might know, with divine certainty, that we have eternal life. “God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life, and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” Nothing, can be more simple, more decided, more comforting, to such as trust God according to His own word. Nothing less is faith. O, the untold blessedness of knowing, and being able truthfully to say, that God hath given to me eternal life, communicated it to me, and this life is in His Son – Christ my life, so that Christ liveth in me; and so real that it comes out in affections, thoughts, and feelings according to Him. “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death” (1 John 3:1414We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. (1 John 3:14)). How very comforting, and yet how solemn!
And more than this; for nothing short of having us in the new and eternal relationship of children could suit the Father’s heart; and this, too, the Scriptures clearly teach, not only for present comfort, but to bring out the duties and affections that necessarily flow from knowing such an endearing relationship. The Scripture not only says, ‘Ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus, but goes on to tell us that the Holy Spirit dwells in us because We are sons. “Because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba. Father”; and it is also clear that those who have the Spirit in them know that thee are God’s children for “the Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit the new life or nature], that we are the children of God” (Gal. 4:66And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father. (Galatians 4:6); Rom. 8:1616The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: (Romans 8:16)). Those, then, who know, or are personally assured, on the authority of God’s Word, that they are children of God, have received the Spirit, and can approach God as their Father. We have received “the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father Duties and affections, as we have said, flow from known relationships; for how can any one manifest the love, interest, subjection, and devotion of a child, or walk as a child, unless he knows he is a child? O the unfathomable blessedness and treasure of the Scriptures!
And yet more still. We learn also from the page of inspiration, that the believer is now set by God in a totally new standing, “in heavenly places in Christ Jesus’’: so that he is recognized and addressed in the epistles as not in his sins, not in the flesh, not under law, not of the world, not now in Adam, but “in the Spirit,’’ and “in Christ Jesus.” Hence there is a new creation in Christ Jesus, and such are always before God in all the nearness and acceptance of “the Beloved. What a position of favor and blessing to be always thus before God in all the nearness and relationship of children! Known, too, on the unfailing authority of His Word, with joy and peace in believing, and for such present blessing that we may rejoice in the Lord always, obey His Word, and wait for His return from heaven. The question now for every true believer is not, Am I in Christ? or am I a child of God? for God has told such in His Word, as we have seen, over and over again, that these questions are settled forever; but the important question for us is, “Am I living in the enjoyment of communion with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ?” How can this be, if His Word be not loved, received, and meditated on by us, as the treasury of His thoughts, affections, purposes, and ways? Jesus said, “If a man love Me, he will keep My words;... he that loveth Me not keepeth not My sayings: and the word which ye hear is not Mine but the Father’s which sent Me” (John 14:21-2421He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. (John 14:21‑24)).
(Continued from page 284).
Concluded.