Present Truth for Christians
Henry Edward Hayhoe
Table of Contents
PRESENT TRUTH FOR CHRISTIANS (BRIEFLY DEFINED) - Preface
The object of these outlines is to bring before the reader truth that is fast being let slip.
No claim is made to originality. It is truth that has been accepted and richly blessed among the beloved saints of God for many years.
The writer would suggest that it be kept for ready reference when these subjects are before the mind.
Additional copies will be gladly supplied if other children of God might receive help thereby.
May we earnestly contend for the faith once delivered to the saints. (Jude 3.)
Now we commend it to Him that He might be glorified, and to His name shall be the praise.
H. E. HAYHOE
Introduction
"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. 3:16.
By it we are born again (1 Peter 1:23).
By it our souls are fed and we grow thereby (1 Peter 2:2).
By it we are able to discern good and evil (1 John 4:6).
It is the standard by which all teaching must he judged.
If there is anything in this booklet that is not in accord with the mind of God as revealed in His 'Word, reject it at once.
"Thy word is truth."
John 17:17.
SIN―WHAT IS IT?
" Sin is lawlessness." This is the correct translation of 1 John 3:4.
Man's proper place is subjection to the will of God, so sin is the act of an independent will.
"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Rom. 14:23. That is, faith brings us into the presence of God and we walk consciously there.
"The thought of foolishness is sin." Prov. 24:9. That is, our thoughts tell what we are in nature. (Mark 7:21.)
"All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." Rom. 3:23. That is a summing up of all that the Apostle had been saying previously. Sin is measured by the true nature of God, and that is why it says, "have come short of the glory of God."
"To him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17. That is the active principle of obedience in the new man. To obey it not, is to give place to the old man. (Eph. 4:22.)
The Word of God speaks of "sin" as the nature we have as children of Adam. (Psa. 51:5.) The fruit is the result. In Romans, chapters 6 and 7, we have deliverance from its power through the Spirit of life that is in Christ Jesus through faith.
OH, my Savior crucified,
Near Thy cross would I abide,
Gazing with adoring eye
On Thy dying agony.
Jesus bruised and put to shame,
Tells the glories of God's name;
Holy judgment there I found,
Grace did there o'er sin abound.
God is love I surely know,
In the Savior's depth of woe;
In the sinless in God's sight,
Sin is justly brought to light.
In His spotless soul's distress,
I have learned my guiltiness;
Oh, how vile my low estate,
Since my ransom was so great.
Rent the veil that closed the way
To my home of heavenly day,
In the flesh of Christ the Lord,
Ever be His name adored.
Yet in sight of Calvary,
Contrite should my spirit be,
Rest and holiness there find,
Fashioned like my Savior's mind.
FORGIVENESS
Previous to the first advent of Christ the truth of eternal forgiveness of sin was not made known. Generally speaking, forgiveness as referred to in the Old Testament was governmental; that is, it had to do with this life-not eternity.
The whole teaching of the Epistle to the Hebrews was to bring those who believed to the blessedness of chapter 10, verse 14.
"For by ONE OFFERING He bath perfected FOREVER (uninterrupted continuance) them that are sanctified."
This is the present blessedness of Christianity: no more offering for sin-See verse 18 of that same chapter.
That is now the believers' standing before God. Peter preached it in Acts 10:43. Paul preached it in Acts 13:38,39, adding the blessed fact of justification, and Rom. 8:1 sums up the work of God in grace with those who believed the glad tidings by saying, "There is therefore NOW no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus."
Let no teaching ever cloud the blessed, precious and glorious fruit that flows from the work of God's Son at the cross!
Let us rejoice in it, and praise Him now and forever!
FORGIVENESS! 'twas a joyful sound
To guilty sinners doomed to die:
We'd publish it the world around,
And gladly shout it through the sky.
'Twas the rich gift of love divine;
'Tis full, effacing every crime;
Unbounded shall its glories shine,
And know no change by changing time.
For this stupendous gift of heaven,
What grateful honors shall we show!
Where much transgression is forgiven,
May love with fervent ardor glow.
By love inspired, may all our days
With every heavenly grace be crowned;
May truth and goodness, joy and praise,
In all abide, in all abound.
PEACE
"Therefore being justified by faith, WE HAVE peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:1.
The last verse of the previous chapter would show us that this is faith in what God has done in delivering Christ for our offenses and raising Him for our justification.
Eph. 2:14 tells us, "He is our peace."
Col. 1:20 tells us that He has made peace through the blood of His cross.
It is the fruit of simply believing that God has provided in Christ a perfect atonement for sin. The work was done at the cross, and His resurrection is the witness of God's acceptance of the work His own Son has completed.
Oh, the peace forever flowing
From God's thoughts of His own Son,
Oh, the peace of simply knowing
On the cross that all was done.
Peace with God, the blood in heaven
Speaks of pardon now to me:
Peace with God! The Lord is risen!
Righteousness now counts me free.
A mind at "perfect peace" with God:
Oh, what a word is this!
A sinner reconciled through blood:
This, this indeed is peace!
By nature and by practice far,
How very far from God!
Yet now by grace brought nigh to Him,
Through faith in Jesus' blood.
So nigh, so very nigh to God,
I cannot nearer be;
For in the person of His Son,
I am as near as He.
So dear, so very dear to God,
More dear I cannot be;
The love wherewith He loves the Son,
Such is His love to me.
Why should I ever careful be,
Since such a God is mine?
He watches o'er me night and day,
And tells me, "Thou art mine."
NEW BIRTH
Being "born again" is really being "born of God" (1 John 5:1). That is, we partake of the life and nature of Him who gave us new birth.
It is not the re-enthronement of man's spirit nature, nor is it the old nature improved or governed by a new life.
John 1:12 declares that we become the children of God when we believe on His name.
This new life is manifested by having God as its object.
It walks in the light. That is, it has now the knowledge of God revealed in the Son. (1 John 1:7.)
Its fruit is obedience-(1 John 2:3-5)and righteousness (1 John 2:29); and those divine affections that have God as their object, and love to all the children of God as its character (1 John 3:14).
When the new life is manifested, the world knows us not: because such live with wholly new desires—new objects-new pleasures. We joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 John 3:1-3; Rom. 5:11.)
May this life be seen in all His children!
HOW solemn are the words,
And yet to faith how plain,
Which Jesus uttered while on earth—
"Ye must be born again."
"Ye must be born again!"
For so has God decreed;
No reformation will suffice
'Tis life poor sinners need.
"Ye must be born again!"
And life in Christ must have;
In vain the soul elsewhere may go
'Tis He alone can save.
"Ye must be born again!"
Or never enter heaven;
'Tis only blood-washed ones are there—
The ransomed and forgiven.
"Ye must be born again!"
Then look to Christ and live!
He is "the life" and waits in heaven
Eternal life to give.
ATONEMENT
The word atonement in the Hebrew is literally "to cover," and refers to the removal of positive guilt out of God's sight.
Atonement then refers to the cross where expiation (full payment) was made for sin.
The holiness of God's nature demanded the judgment of sin. The love of God provided a sacrifice.
All the claims of God as "light" have been met at the cross, so that God is free to come out in the fullness of His grace; therefore the riches of His grace are now made known in the present blessing of every one that has believed the gospel.
This fullness of blessing is given by the Spirit through the apostles in the New Testament epistles. It is Christ speaking from heaven. (Heb. 12:25.)
The knowledge of it is through faith in the Word of God. The enjoyment of it is the result of walking in the path of obedience to the Word, so that the Holy Spirit can without hindrance fill our hearts with the precious love of Christ, and our minds with the fruit of His atoning work, that has glorified God in the putting away of our sins.
THE ATONING work is done,
The Victim's blood is shed;
And Jesus now is gone
His people's cause to plead:
He sits in heaven their great High Priest,
And bears their names upon His breast.
See "sprinkled with the blood
The mercy seat" above;
For justice had withstood
The purposes of love;
But justice now withstands no more,
And mercy yields her boundless store.
And though awhile He be
Hid from the eyes of men,
His people look to see
Their great High Priest again.
In brightest glory He will come,
And take His waiting people home.
SUBSTITUTION
Substitution is always spoken of in the Word in connection with the family of faith. It is never spoken of in any other way.
The Word of God never says that Christ bore the sins of the whole world.
Propitiation is for the whole world. (1 John 2:2.) That is, Christ has met the claims of God's holy nature and borne the full judgment of sin at the cross, so' that God can in righteousness forgive any poor sinner who will accept the message of His grace.
Scripture says, "He bare the sin of many," Isa. 53:12. Heb. 9:28 confirms the passage in Isa. 53.
Peter says, "who bare OUR SINS in His own body on the tree." 1 Peter 2:24.
Christianity brings the blessed truth that every believer stands at all times before God as FORGIVEN. (Heb. 10:17; 1 John 2:12.)
Let us praise HIM for such grace!
O CHRIST, what burdens bowed Thy head!
Our load was laid on Thee;
Thou stoodest in the sinner's stead-
To bear all ill for me.
A victim led, Thy blood was shed;
Now there's no load for me.
Death and the curse were in our cup-
Christ, 'twas full for Thee!
But Thou hast drained the last dark drop,
'Tis empty now for me.
That bitter cup-love drank it up;
Left but the love for me.
Jehovah lifted up His rod—
O Christ, it fell on Thee!
Thou wast forsaken of Thy God;
No distance now for me.
Thy blood beneath that rod has flowed;
Thy bruising healeth me.
The tempest's awful voice was heard,
Christ, it broke on Thee;
Thy open bosom was my ward;
It bore the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred;
Now cloudless peace for me.
For me, Lord Jesus, Thou hast died,
And I have died in Thee.
Thou'rt risen: my bands are all untied:
And now Thou liv'st in me.
The Father's face of radiant grace
Shines now in light on me.
PROPITIATION
Propitiation means meeting the claims of God's holy nature.
In Rom. 3:25 we get Christ presented as the One who has made propitiation through His blood. We come into the blessing of it through faith.
"Whom God bath set forth" tells of the precious fact that it was the heart of God in grace that provided the sacrifice.
1 John 2:2 tells us that the work of propitiation was for the whole world, so that any of Adam's race can come to Christ and be saved.
God was never revealed as a "Savior God" for the whole world until the New Testament was written. May we glorify HIM for His mercy and sing unto His name! (Rom. 15:9.)
COME to the blood-stained tree;
The Victim bleeding lies;
God sets the sinner free,
Since Christ a ransom dies:
The Spirit will apply
His blood to cleanse the soul,
O burdened soul, draw nigh,
For none can come in vain
Come, come, come.
Dark though thy guilt appear,
And deep its crimson dye,
There's boundless mercy here-
Do not from mercy fly;
Oh, do not doubt His Word,
There's pardon full and free,
For justice smote the Lord,
And sheathes her sword for thee.
Come, come, come.
Look not within for peace,
Within there's naught to cheer;
Look up, and find release
From sin and self and fear;
If gloom thy soul enshroud,
If tears faith's eye bedim,
If doubts around thee crowd,
Come, tell them all to Him.
Come, come, come.
JUSTIFICATION
To justify is to declare righteous.
Now justification in Christianity always brings the believer into a new position before God.
The believer is justified as being "in Christ" before God.
Grace is the way of it. (Rom. 3:24.) Faith is the means of it. (Rom. 3:28.) The blood is the ground of it. (Rom. 5:9.)
"Justification of life" in Rom. 5:18 is our standing before God in Christ who is our life. (Col. 3:4.)
Wondrous grace! What praise must break forth when we see ourselves "in Christ" before God, and learn that the will and the heart of God put us there!
NO condemnation!"-precious word!
Consider it, my soul!
Thy sins were all on Jesus laid;
His stripes have made thee whole.
In heaven the blood forever speaks
In God's omniscient ear;
The saints, as jewels on His heart,
Jesus doth ever bear.
"No condemnation!"-O my soul,
'Tis God that speaks the word,
Perfect in comeliness art thou
In Christ, the risen Lord.
Teach me, O God, to fix mine eyes
On Christ, the spotless Lamb,
So shall I love Thy precious will,
And glorify His name.
REDEMPTION
Redemption means deliverance by price out of our state of bondage into freedom.
The true knowledge of redemption brings one into perfect peace, into true and constant dependence on the Redeemer.
Israel were redeemed out of Egypt when they crossed the Red Sea; then they sang; so we "joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom. 5:11.
We wait the redemption of our bodies. (Rom. 8:23.) That will be when the Lord comes for us and provides the dead and living with glorified bodies. (1 Cor. 15:51-54; Phil. 3:21.)
Then we look for the redemption of the purchased possession, which will bring the new creation into the blessedness of deliverance. (Rom. 8:19-22; Eph. 1:14.)
The unbelieving are not redeemed, but will bow and own Christ as Lord before being cast out into outer darkness. (Isa. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10.)
WE ARE by Christ redeemed,
The cost-His precious blood;
Be nothing by our souls esteemed
Like this great good.
Were the vast world our own,
With all its varied store,
And Thou, Lord Jesus, wert unknown,
We still were poor.
Our earthen vessels break;
The world itself grows old;
But Christ our precious dust will take And freshly mold:
He'll give these bodies vile
A fashion like His own;
He'll bid the whole creation smile,
And hush its groan.
Thus far by grace preserved,
Each moment speeds us on;
The crown and kingdom are reserved
Where Christ is gone.
When cloudless morning shines,
We shall His glory share;
In pleasant places are the lines;
The home how fair!
To Him our weakness clings
Through tribulation sore,
And seeks the covert of His wings
Till all he o'er.
And when we've run the race,
And fought the faithful fight,
We then shall see Him face to face,
SANCTIFICATION
Sanctification precedes justification. (1 Cor. 6:11.)
A person or a vessel sanctified is SET APART TO GOD absolutely and perfectly. "By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ." Heb. 10:10.
This is our position always before God as the fruit of the work of Christ upon the cross. This is "positional sanctification" and never changes.
To sanctify the Lord of Hosts is to have Him before us to the exclusion of all others, so that we give Him credit for all that He is as He has revealed Himself to us-see Isa. 8:13.
In the poem following, note stanza 3. It says each is "meet"-that is, positionally sanctified-and "training"-that is, progressive sanctification, which is the practical application of the truth to our daily lives.
Every believer is "positionally sanctified."
O GOD of grace, our Father,
All praise we give to Thee,
'Tis in Thy sovereign favor
All blessedness we see;
There only is the fountain
Whence living waters flow,
Which like a glorious river
Still gladden as they go.
As Thine, Thou didst foreknow us
From all eternity;
Thy chosen loved ones ever,
Kept present to Thine eye;
And when was come the moment,
Thou, calling by Thy grace,
Didst gently, firmly draw us
Each from his hiding-place.
Thy Word, Thyself reflecting,
Doth sanctify by truth,
Still leading on Thy children
With gentle heavenly growth.
Thus still the work proceedeth,
The work begun by grace,
For each is meet, and training,
Father, to see Thy face.
PROGRESSIVE SANCTIFICATION
This we have in 1 Thess. 5:23.
"And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Also in Heb. 12:14, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord."
We do not follow after holiness to get it, but because we have the new man which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Eph. 4:24).
It is the character of the new life, which we are exhorted to display.
The measure and character of it is Christ in glory.
It is by faith, for it looks to Jesus.
The Holy Spirit is the power for it.
We enjoy the position of being sanctified in Christ Jesus (1 Cor. 1:2) in the measure in which we walk practically in the truth.
May the precious love of Christ constrain our hearts to walk in the path of obedience to His Word in holy separation from every form of evil!
HAVE I an object, Lord, below
Which would divide my heart with Thee;
Which would divert its even flow
In answer to Thy constancy?
Oh teach me quickly to return,
And cause my heart afresh to burn.
Have I a hope, however dear,
Which would defer Thy coming, Lord!
Which would detain my spirit here
(Where naught can lasting joy afford)?
From it, my Savior, set me free,
To look, and long, and wait for Thee.
Be Thou the object bright and fair
To fill and satisfy the heart;
My hope to meet Thee in the air,
And nevermore from Thee to part:
That I may undistracted be
To follow, serve, and wait for Thee.
GOVERNMENTAL FORGIVENESS
Governmental forgiveness means the forgiveness that God exercises over us as His children. It has to do with this life.
When the believer sins, he loses his communion as a child with the Father, but not his relationship as a child of God.
The subject of 1 John 1 is communion; therefore the Apostle says: "If we confess our sins [note, not ask for forgiveness], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
This is governmental forgiveness and is also referred to in Matt. 6:14,15, and chapter 18:35. The Lord's prayer has also this thought when it says, "Forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us." Luke 11:4 See also James 5:15.)
The "sin unto death." referred to in 1 John 5:16,17, is that of a believer N.. he has so dishonored the Lord through sin, that he is removed in the government of God, though not lost.
1 Cor. 11:30 is another passage that refers to the government of God. Some were sickly and some slept (were taken in death) because they "broke bread" and walked carelessly with unjudged evil in their lives.
May we walk carefully-prayerfully, with exercised hearts to please God who has done great things for us!
O LAMB of God, still keep us
Close to Thy pierced side;
'Tis only there in safety
And peace we can abide;
With foes and snares around us,
And lusts and fears within,
The grace that sought and found us,
Alone can keep us clean.
'Tis only in Thee hiding
We feel ourselves secure;
Only in Thee abiding
The conflict can endure.
Thine arm the victory gaineth
O'er every hateful foe;
Thy love our hearts sustaineth,
In all their cares and woe.
Soon shall our eyes behold Thee
With rapture face to face;
And, resting there in glory,
We'll sing Thy power and grace:
Thy beauty, Lord, and glory,
The wonders of Thy love
Shall be the endless story
Of all Thy saints above.
SINLESS LIVING
1 John 1:8 declares, "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
James 3:2 declares, "For in many things we offend all" (or "all offend," N. Trans.).
Rom. 6:12 exhorts, "Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof."
2 Cor. 4:10,11 exhorts and declares, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
These verses addressed to believers show that the old nature is still there. Our constant need is to "watch unto prayer," as we find in 1 Peter 4:7.
Col. 3:3 states the truth that "we are dead." It is the truth of Rom. 6 that we died in the death of Christ.
Rom. 6:11 exhorts us to reckon ourselves to be dead. That is how we are to begin our Christian life; then 2 Cor. 4:10 tells us to carry out this truth in our daily life.
2 Cor. 3:18 gives us the principle of victory through occupation with Christ.
"Preserve me, O God: for in Thee do I put my trust." Psa. 16: 1.
O THOU whose mercies far exceed
All we can do or say,
As in Thy people Thou indeed
Dost daily more display;
Let, for our happiness, O God,
On us while here below.
By virtue of Christ's death and blood,
Thy richest blessings flow.
Preserve Thy flock most graciously,
Within Thy sheltering fold;
Move them from every harm away,
And in Thy safeguard hold;
Till Thou shalt fully have obtained
In us the fruits of grace,
And we, in joys that never end,
Shall see Thee face to face.
Do Thou, the very God of peace,
Us wholly sanctify,
And grant us such a rich increase
Of power from on high,
That spirit, soul, and body may,
Preserved free from stain.
Be blameless until that great day;
Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!
HOLINESS
Holiness is abhorrence of evil with delight in that which is good.
We have three kinds of nature in Scripture. Innocent—this was man before the fall. Fallen—this is man's present condition. Holy—this is the true nature of God.
Holiness is not just separation from evil, but it is the nature of God in the believer that abhors evil-because we are "born of God." (1 John 5:1.) Peter speaks of the family of faith as being partakers of the divine nature, thus escaping the corruption in the world through lust, by the possession of a nature that has God for its object, and lives as one called to God's eternal glory by Christ Jesus (1 Peter 5:10).
Paul tells us in Eph. 4:24, that the new man is created in righteousness and true holiness.
All the exhortations in the Word are based on having our lives correspond to what we possess in Christ, not getting the thing by our own efforts.
May we so nourish this new life that we have from God, that practical holiness may characterize our lives to His praise!
"Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling." Heb. 3:1.
"Be ye holy; for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:16.
WE go to meet the Savior,
His glorious face to see;
What manner of behavior
Doth with this hope agree?
May God's illumination
Guide heart and walk aright,
That so our preparation
Be pleasing in His sight.
We'd gladly while the hours,
Till night shall pass away,
And chant with all our powers
The blessings of that day;
To Thee, the Lord of glory,
We'd raise the happy song,
And make Thy love's bright story
The theme of every tongue.
Not sinful man's endeavor,
Nor any mortal's care,
Could draw Thy sov'reign favor
To sinners in despair;
Uncalled, Thou cam'st with gladness,
Us from the fall to raise,
And change our grief and sadness
To songs of joy and praise.
RECONCILIATION
When MAN is in the mind of the Spirit, it means a change of disposition towards an object.
When NEW CREATION is in the mind of the Spirit it means having the thing suited to God in His own nature.
Reconciliation is always connected with the death of Christ, because it is only- as possessing a new nature that we are reconciled.
Scripture never speaks of GOD reconciled. It is man that needs reconciliation.
2 Cor. 5:19 tells us that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself; but man refused to be reconciled. He rejected God's Son sent in grace.
Now the glad tidings of the blessed fact that He who knew no sin was made sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, is preached, that through faith those who believe should be reconciled.
Phil. 2:10 tells us that things under the earth (infernal beings) will bow. They will never be reconciled.
"Having made peace through the blood of His cross, by Him to reconcile all things unto Himself." Col. 1:20.
BEHOLD the Lamb" enthroned on high—
"He is our peace:"
In Him we are to God brought nigh"
He is our peace:"
He who on Calvary's cross has bled
He who was numbered with the dead—
Exalted now o'er all as Head,
"He is our peace."
"Complete in Him" at God's right hand-
"He is our peace:"
Before the throne we boldly stand-
"He is our peace:"
The blood-besprinkled mercy-seat,
His pierced side, His hands and feet,
Proclaim redemption's work complete—
"He is our peace."
God finds eternal rest in Him—
"He is our peace;"
That rest which was disturbed by sin—
"He is our peace;"
We too by faith on Him repose,
Who did the Father's heart disclose,
From which this full salvation flows—
"He is our peace."
As one with Him we rest secure—
"He is our peace."
Unchanging doth His work endure—
"He is our peace;"
Now seated on the Father's throne,
Elect and precious Corner-stone,
On Him we rest-on Him alone—
"He is our peace."
RIGHTEOUSNESS
The righteousness of God is the display of the nature of God in all His acts.
We, believers, are made the righteousness of God in Christ. (2 Cor. 5:21.)
He, CHRIST, is our righteousness before God. (1 Cor. 1:30.)
It is not the merits of Christ put to our account, nor is it Christ keeping the law for us.
The righteous judgment of—"sin"-the root, and "sins"-the fruit, were both seen at the cross.
The blood of Christ put our sins away. (1 John 1:7.) The death of Christ ended our Adam history before God. (2 Cor. 5:17.)
Now Christ is our life. (Col. 3:4.)
We are "in Christ" before God. (Rom. 8:1.)
It is a blessed fact that Christ is the believer's righteousness before God, so that he rejects all other righteousness as worthless. Read carefully what Paul says in Phil. 3:7-9.
The Lord give us each to enjoy it more and praise His grace together!
."He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Cor. 5:21.
JESUS! That name is love,
Jesus, our Lord!
Jesus, all names above,
Jesus, our Lord!
Thou, Lord, our all must be;
Nothing that's good have we,
Nothing apart from Thee,
Jesus, our Lord!
As Son of Man it was,
Jesus, the Lord!
Thou gav'st Thy life for us,
Jesus, our Lord!
Great was indeed Thy love,
All other loves above,
Love Thou didst dearly prove
Jesus, our Lord!
Righteous alone in Thee,
Jesus, the Lord!
Thou wilt a refuge be,
Jesus, our Lord!
Whom then have we to fear,
What trouble, grief, or care,
Since Thou art ever near.
Jesus, our Lord!
Soon Thou wilt come again,
Jesus, the Lord!
We shall be happy then,
Jesus our Lord!
When Thine own face we see,
Then shall we like Thee be.
Then evermore with Thee,
Jesus, our Lord!
ETERNAL LIFE
Eternal life is not just never-dying life. Angels live forever, yet they have not what Scripture speaks of as "eternal life." The unsaved live forever under the judgment of God, yet they have not eternal life -see 1 John 5:12.
It is a blessed truth that eternal life is "Christ our life"-see 1 John 1:1,2.
It is the gift of God to every one that believes the gospel. (Rom. 6:23).
Possessing Christ as our life, we have now the nature of God with the affections and moral character of that nature. This new life cannot sin. (1 John 3:9.)
The Gospel of John gives "eternal life" manifested in the Son of God.
In the Epistle of John it is that same life manifested in those who are "born of God."
Possessing eternal life, we are thus able to enter into the very thoughts of God Himself. The blessed result is community of thought in "oneness of life."
The Holy Spirit dwelling in us as believers gives the power for our walk; while the Word of God enables us to judge that which would hinder communion.
May we walk carefully-prayerfully-so to enjoy the blessedness of it!
"He that hath the Son hath life." 1 John 5:12.
"When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory." Col. 3:4.
LORD JESUS, 'tis our joy to think
Our life is so bound up with Thine,
That nothing can divide the link
Secured and fixed by love divine.
By faith we see Thee, Lord, enthroned
At God's right hand of power on high;
And Thy redeemed ones, we're owned
As one with Thee, in Thee brought nigh.
Death—What Is It?
The simplest scripture defining what death is will be found in James 2:26, "The body without the spirit is dead."
Death means the separation of life from the body.
Death is never the end of existence. This Luke 16:19-31 would plainly teach.
The answer of the Lord to the Sadducees in Luke 20, when speaking of the patriarchs who had died many years before, was, "All live unto Him"-(see verse 38).
The blessedness of those of faith in the interval between death and resurrection is not revealed in the Old Testament. It has now come to light through Paul's gospel (2 Tim. 1:9,10).
Eccl. 3:19 is simply all that man could know by viewing things "under the sun." God is showing in that book the utter inability of man to find out the things that belong to revelation.
The second death is the separation of the whole man from God forever. What a solemn voice of warning!
The fact of a "second death" proves that the first one was not cessation of being.
"We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Cor. 5:8.
DEATH and judgment are behind us,
Grace and glory are before;
All the billows rolled o'er Jesus,
There they spent their utmost power.
"First-fruits" of the resurrection,
He is risen from the tomb:
Now we stand in new creation,
Free, because beyond our doom.
Jesus died, and we died with Him,
"Buried" in His grave we lay,
One with Him in resurrection,
Now "in Him" in heaven's bright day.
RESURRECTION
The common teaching of a general resurrection is not taught in Scripture. See such scriptures as John 5:29; Acts 24:15 and Luke 14:14.
1 Cor. 15 teaches us of the resurrection of believers: "Christ the first-fruits, afterward they that are Christ's at His coming."
Rev. 20, verse 4, teaches us that these saints lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years, while verse 5 teaches us that the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished, adding: "This is the first resurrection," thus clearly teaching the fact of there being two resurrections.
This "resurrection from among the dead was first taught by our Lord in Mark 9:9. The disciples did believe in the resurrection of the dead. It was a current Jewish belief gathered correctly from the Old Testament scriptures. (Job 19:25-27; Acts 23:8.)
Christianity gives the precious truth of a "first resurrection" that will take place at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thess. 4:15-18.)
THE LORD is risen: the Red Sea's judgment flood
Is passed in Him, who bought us with His blood.
The Lord is risen: we stand beyond the doom
Of all our sin, through Jesus' empty tomb.
The Lord is risen: with Him we also rose,
And in His grave see vanquished all our foes.
The Lord is risen: beyond the judgment land,
In Him, in resurrection life we stand.
The Lord is risen: redeemed now to God,
We tread the desert which His feet have trod.
The Lord is risen: the sanctuary's our place,
Where now we dwell before the Father's face.
The Lord is risen: the Lord is gone before,
We long to see Him, and to sin no more;
The Lord is risen: our triumph-shout shall be,
"Thou hast prevailed! Thy people, Lord, are free!"
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN
The kingdom of heaven is the rule of the heavens in the Person of the Son of Man.
It was preached by John the Baptist (Matt. 3:2); by our Lord Himself in the following chapter, verse 17. Later we find it preached by the apostles in chapter 10, verse 7.
When Christ as the promised King and Messiah to Israel is rejected, it becomes the "kingdom in mystery." (Matt. 13:11.) That is, Christ is not openly reigning, though faith is assured that God is behind the scenes moving all the scenes which He is behind. (Eph. 1:19-23; 1 Peter 3:22.)
Wheresoever the seed of the gospel has been sown and men have professed Christianity, there we have what Scripture speaks of as "The kingdom of heaven." It is the sphere of Christian profession on earth.
Profession or Reality – Which?
WE speak of the mercy of God,
So boundless, so rich, and so free;
But what will it profit thy soul
Unless 'tis relied on by thee?
We speak of salvation and love,
By the Father in Jesus made known;
But if thou would'st live unto God,
By faith thou must make it thine own.
We speak of the Savior's blest name,
By which God can sinners receive;
Yet still art thou lost and undone,
Unless in that name thou'lt believe.
We speak of the blood of the Lamb,
Which frees from pollution and sin;
But its virtues by thee must be proved,
Or thou wilt be ever unclean.
We speak of the glory to come,
Of the heaven so bright and so fair;
But unless thou'lt in Jesus believe,
Thou shalt not, thou canst not be there.
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
The expression "kingdom of God" must be taken in its context to decide just what the Spirit of God has before Him in the passage of Scripture in which it is found.
We have the setting up of the kingdom of God in its heavenly aspect in Luke 13:28, and in its earthly aspect in Mark 15:43; also Luke 17:20;19:11;21:31.
We have its moral character in Rom. 14:17. This moral character. that began so blessedly at Pentecost has become corrupt. This the Lord alludes to in Luke 13:20,21.
In its true character one must be "born main" to enter it. (John 3:5.)
Paul preached the "kingdom of God"; that is, Paul preached the moral character of the kingdom, exhorting those who believed the gospel to walk worthy of God who had called them to His kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:12.)
The eternal state will witness its true character in full display. "God all in all" means that the true character of God will be seen in the whole of new creation.
How blessed and glorious that eternity of rest!
"Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." 2 Peter 3:11.
O TEACH us more of Thy blest ways,
Thou holy Lamb of God!
And fix and root us in Thy grace,
As those redeemed by blood.
O tell us often of Thy love,
Of all Thy grief and pain;
And let our hearts with joy confess
That thence comes all our gain.
For this, O may we freely count-
Whate'er we have but loss;
The dearest object of our love,
Compared with Thee, but dross.
Engrave this deeply on our hearts
With an eternal pen,
That we may, in some small degree,
Return Thy love again.
THE CHURCH - THE HOUSE OF GOD
The word Church means "called out ones."
The first time the Church is mentioned in Scripture is in Matt. 16:18. Here it is the "house of God" with Christ as the builder. (Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Peter 2:4,5.) The "Rock" upon which it is built is Christ. (1 Cor. 10:4.)
When man builds, he has the warning as to bad material and its consequent judgment. (1 Cor. 3:9-17.)
Peter does not get the keys of the Church, nor of heaven, but of "the kingdom of heaven." Thus Peter uses these keys to open the door of grace in the gospel to the Jews in Acts 2, and to the Gentiles in Acts 10. This, Peter refers to in respect of the Gentiles in Acts 15:7.
To be a "living stone," one must be born again, as Peter tells us in 1 Peter 1:23. In Peter's second epistle, he shows the coming judgment upon those who are in the house; but not having life, they fall into corruption and are judged with the world.
The Christian is exhorted to have Christ as his pattern, as one in the house of God. (1 Tim. 3:15.)
May we be exercised to show the true character of God as His children!
ON CHRIST salvation rests secure;
The Rock of Ages must endure;
Nor can that faith be overthrown
Which rests upon the "Living Stone."
No other hope shall intervene:
To Him we look, on Him we lean:
Other foundations we disown,
And build on Christ, the "Living Stone."
In Him, it is ordained to raise
A temple to Jehovah's praise,
Composed of all the saints, who own
No Savior but the "Living Stone."
View the vast building, see it rise;
The work how great! the plan how wise!
O wondrous fabric! power unknown!
That rears it on the "Living Stone."
But most adore His precious Name;
His glory and His grace proclaim:
For us, condemned, despised, undone,
He gave Himself, the "Living Stone."
THE CHURCH - THE BODY OF CHRIST
The Church as "the house" and as "the body of Christ" began on the day of Pentecost. Acts, chapter 2, records the way in which it took place; and 1 Cor. 12:13, tells us that all were then baptized by ONE SPIRIT into ONE BODY.
This was a "saved remnant" from among the Jews, to which was afterward added the Gentiles in Acts, chapter 10. This was fulfilling the word in John 10:16, which is correctly rendered "one flock," and also the word in chapter 11:52, which speaks of the gathering together "in one" the children of God that were scattered abroad.
Paul received by revelation the wondrous mystery of what had taken place. Christ and we i;re one! (Eph. 3:1-7.)
We may get bad material when the Church is viewed as the house, for man may add that which is not real; but all is good material when it is the body, for it is the Holy Spirit that unites to Christ in glory.
The "one loaf" on the table in the breaking of bread is the precious symbol of this unity formed by the Spirit. (1 Cor. 10:17.) Such an assembly is an "assembly of the saints." (1 Cor. 14:33.)
LORD JESUS! are we one with Thee?
O height! O depth of love!
And crucified and dead with Thee,
Now one in heaven above.
Such was Thy grace, that for our sake
Thou didst from heaven come down;
With us of flesh and blood partake,
And make our guilt Thine own.
Our sins, our guilt, in love divine,
Confessed and borne by Thee;
The gall, the curse, the wrath were Thine,
To set Thy ransomed free.
Ascended now, in glory bright,
Life-giving Head Thou art;
Nor life, nor death, nor depth, nor height,
Thy saints and Thee can part.
And soon shall come that glorious day,
When, seated on Thy throne,
Thou shalt to wondering worlds display
That we with Thee are one.
THE LORD'S TABLE
This expression is found in 1 Cor. 10:21, and was written before any divisions had taken place in the Church, which was formed by the descent of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost. (1 Cor. 12:13.)
The Lord's table then has two marks: First, the Lord must have set it up.
Second, the apostles' doctrine and fellowship must characterize it. (Acts 2:42.1
The Church is not a voluntary gathering of Christians, but a unity formed by the Spirit uniting believers to Christ the Head in heaven. The one loaf on the table is the scriptural symbol of that unity. (1 Cor. 10:17.)
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AT THY TABLE
PRECIOUS Savior, we are gathered
To Thy sacred peerless Name;
Faith beholds Thee there the Center,
As with Thee our place we claim.
At Thy table, O how precious!
There to see Thy love divine.
O the cost! It moves us deeply,
As we take the bread and wine.
O what love! What deep affections
In these emblems, Lord, we see.
Thus our hearts, in deep thanksgiving,
Bow as we remember Thee.
Thanks we give Thee, praise and honor,
Precious Savior, Jesus, Lord,
For the love which hath redeemed us
By Thine own most precious blood.
"Till I come," O thought most cheering,
And Thy words, "Remember Me,"
Fill our hearts with adoration
As we wait, remembering Thee.
THE COMING OF THE LORD JESUS
The coming of the Lord Jesus is the Christian's proper hope. This we see in 1 Thess. 1:9,10. We wait for God's Son from heaven.
1 Thess. 4:13-18 unfolds for the first time the manner in which it will take place.
1 Cor. 15:51-57 unfolds the blessed revelation of an incorruptible and an immortal body received in that day.
Phil. 3:21 unfolds the truth that we shall have bodies of glory like Christ.
Every Old Testament scripture without any exception whatsoever, mentioning the coming of the Lord, refers to the setting up of the kingdom on earth. When His coming in THAT CHARACTER is spoken about, we come WITH HIM, having previously been caught up to meet Him in the air. (Zech. 14:5; Jude 14; Rev. 17:14.)
"The Spirit and the bride say, Come." May our hearts respond and say: "Even so, come, Lord Jesus." Rev. 22:20.
O LORD! our hearts are waiting,
The archangel's heaven-sent cry,
Which wakes the saints now sleeping,
And to Thee brings them nigh.
When we, with them ascending,
Shall meet Thee in the air,
To gaze upon Thy glory,
And all Thy likeness bear.
O hour for which in patience
Thou'st waited through the night,
Whilst we Thy saints were gathered,
And brought into the light:
Then, then, the Church completed,
God makes no more delay;
Lord, with shouts of triumph,
We pass into the day.
O hour of richest blessing!
When brought to Thee so nigh,
To be Thy joy forever,
We share Thy throne on high;
To rest in all that brightness,
And ever there abide;
To find Thy heart delighting
In us, Thy ransomed bride.
O blessed, coming Savior!
Speak, then, the joyous word,
To which our hearts responding,
"Forever with the Lord."
Forever with Thee, Savior—
For evermore shall be—
In deepest, fullest blessing,
Forever one with Thee.
THE LORD'S COMING IN JUDGMENT
Every Old Testament scripture that speaks of the Lord's coming reveals judgment. The prophetic page of Scripture is full of such warnings.
The Lord in His ministry while on earth often referred to these coming judgments. This can be seen from Matthew, chapter 24: Mark, chapter 13; Luke, chapters 17 and 20.
He will then purge out of His earthly kingdom all things that offend, and them that do iniquity. (Matt. 13:41.)
Then Jerusalem (on earth) will be the center of government and the witness of righteousness and glory upon earth. (See Jer. 3:17; Ezek. 48:35: Joel 3:20,21; Amos 9:15.)
Psa. 99:1-4 tells of the righteous judgment on the earth in that day.
This will be the beginning of the day of the Lord and its fruit will be millennial rest for a thousand years.
The New Jerusalem of Rev. 21 must not be confounded with the above. This latter is the "heavenly Bride" and comes down from God out of heaven. It is seen above the earth-not on it.
This heavenly city is "the Church with Christ in glory"-the "better thing" of Heb. 11:40.
HAIL to the Lord's anointed!
Great David's greater Son:
When to the time appointed
The rolling years shall run,
He comes to break oppression,
To set the captive free;
To take away transgression,
And rule in equity.
The heavens-which now conceal Him
In counsels deep and wise-
In glory shall reveal Him
To our rejoicing eyes;
He who with hands uplifted
Went from the earth below,
Shall come again all gifted,
His blessing to bestow.
He shall come down like showers
Upon the new-mown grass,
And joy and hope, like flowers,
Spring up where He doth pass.
Before Him, on the mountains,
Shall peace, the herald, go;
And righteousness, in fountains,
From hill to valley flow.
Kings shall fall down before Him,
And gold and incense bring;
All nations shall adore Him,
His praise all people sing,
Outstretched His wide dominion
O'er river, sea, and shore,
Far as the eagle's pinion.
Or dove's light wing can soar.
THE DAY OF GOD
This expression which is found in 2 Peter 3:12 refers to the eternal state.
In the millennial reign of Christ, "righteousness reigns," but in the eternal state, "righteousness dwells." (See verse 13 of the same chapter.)
1 Cor. 15:28 refers to the eternal state when Christ, as Son of Man, is Head over all things.
Rev. 21:1-8 refers also to the eternal state-the first five verses, the state of the blessed; verses 6 and 7, the call in view of this; and verse 8, the awful state of the unbelieving.
1 John 3:8 tells us for this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy ("undo," N. Trans.) the works of the devil. This will be the eternal state when all evil will be done away from the new creation.
The wicked are under the judgment of God-still evil in their nature. In Rev. 2:11, they are unable to enter the new creation of manifested glory. The solemn, awful thought given of the Lord Himself is this: "The wrath of God abideth on him." John 3:36.
Paul could find no words to convey the blessedness of coming glory for the believer, but the awful future of the unsaved is very solemn—eternal punishment. (Matt. 25:46.)
HIGH, in the Father's house above,
Our mansion is prepared;
There is the home, the rest we love,
And there our bright reward.
With Him we love, in spotless white,
In glory we shall shine;
His blissful presence our delight,
In love and joy divine.
All taint of sin shall be removed,
All evil done away:
And we shall dwell with God's Beloved
Through God's eternal day.