by E G. Patterson
God alone can produce life, and give the power and grace to live it for Himself here below. It alone is fragrant in His sight. The life also of Jesus is made manifest in our body. May we be stirred to the depths of our souls with the thought of this victory, which we can indeed give Him over the enemy, even our faith, overcoming the world which He has passed through in His own perfection. "I have overcome the world." It is a beaten foe and our faith in Him keeps us dependent. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4.
Thus "life," which walks with God, and waits for Christ, and serves Him while it waits, is the subject in the teaching in 2 Tim. 1. It was promised in Christ Jesus before the world was. It was exhibited in Him on earth, brought to light by the glad tidings of His work and victory (vv. 9,10).
Those who have died with Him shall also live with Him, if we look onward to the future (Ch. 2:11). It was seen in Paul as a present thing as he walked and served continually (Ch. 3:10). The enemy would frustrate it by his counterfeits, but he would be brought to shame by a lowly, unworldly, devoted and separate walk with God (Ch. 3:8, 9). All that would thus live godly in Christ Jesus would suffer (Ch. 3:12).
Paul's Doctrine
Still, the servant was to continue in the things which he had learned, and been assured of, knowing of whom he had learned them. Never would there come a moment when such were to be abandoned; Paul's doctrine was the last revelation ever given. It was God's secret to those who feared Him and who had an ear to hear. Until we all come in the unity of the faith, it would abide, because the Holy Spirit on earth remained. It has been the last truth restored to the Church of God, as it was the last given. When it was lost at the first, complete ruin supervened. Now when refused, or abused, by taking it up in the form without the power, it sounds as a warning signal to all further progress in those who are thus beguiled of the enemy.
The Scriptures of God are completed by the doctrine of the Church through Paul. "Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for His body's sake, which is the church [assembly]: whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God." Col. 1:24, 25.
Spirit of Antichrist
A segment of the complete circle of revelation was needed when Paul was called, and by his doctrine all is told. There is no advance beyond it. John may unfold what was already spoken of, but no further truth is revealed. To go beyond it, and the Scriptures completed by it, is the spirit of error and of antichrist.
John can tell the elect lady and her children that "many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist." "Whosoever transgresseth [goes forward], and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God." How completely does the Spirit of God pronounce against all advance, all development, and all that would not abide in what was "from the beginning," that is, from the complete revelation of the truth in Christ unfolded through His apostles by the Holy Spirit. John could say again, "He that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." 1 John 4:6.
God has cast His people upon the Scriptures in the last days. "I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified." Acts 20:32. The Apostle said this to the elders at Ephesus where grievous wolves were entering, not sparing the flock. "Continue thou," he says to Timothy, as to all of us, "in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; and that from a child thou hast known the holy Scriptures.... All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2 Tim. 3:14-17.