"If" is a very salutary word in Scripture. It challenges the Christian as to how far he appreciates the privileges that God has given, and whether he is answering in his daily life to those privileges and blessings. We quote three of these " ifs," often brought up by the enemy to upset young Christians, and leave them in perplexity and doubt. "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand: by which also ye are saved, IF ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain." (1 Cor. 15:1, 21Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:1‑2)).
Some of these Corinthian saints were asserting that there was no resurrection of the dead (1 Cor. 15:1212Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? (1 Corinthians 15:12)). The Apostle Paul writes to them earnestly on the subject, and points out that if there is no resurrection, then is Christ not risen, and if Christ be not risen, they were yet in their sins. The very gospel of the grace of God was at stake. So here was a challenge to keep in mind the gospel they had received. What true Christian is there, who will ever forget the blessed gospel of the grace of God, that was the means of his salvation? This "if" was well timed by the Apostle, but he did not write the words we have just quoted to throw a doubt on the salvation of those, who had believed on Christ, and were saved once and forever.
In Heb. 3:1414For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; (Hebrews 3:14) we get another "if." We read, "We are made partakers of Christ, IF we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end."
The Hebrew believers, who are addressed in this epistle, were in danger of turning back to Judaism. The Apostle Paul knowing this tells them plainly what that would mean. But though he thus warns them with a stern reminder of what such a step would involve, he had no doubt as to these believers, for he says, "But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak... " (Heb. 6:99But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. (Hebrews 6:9)).
Again he speaks of his confidence as to them. He writes, "If any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul." (Heb. 10:38, 3938Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul. (Hebrews 10:38‑39)). These verses show that the Apostle had no doubt as to them, though he used the word " if " to exercise them to go forward on the road on which they had placed their feet by the infinite mercy of God.
A last Chapter we refer to with a challenging "if" is Col. 1:21-2321And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; (Colossians 1:21‑23). We read, "And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: IF ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel."
There are two sides to every truth. Believers are saved and saved forever. We are the sheep of Christ, and we have our Lord's own word that we shall never perish. On the other hand we are in this world, pilgrims on the heavenly journey, and this is where responsibility comes in. We are therefore exhorted to steadfastness and continuance in well doing. This is why the Spirit is given, the Holy Spirit of God, the Power by which believers are enabled to walk to God's glory, and answer to their responsibility on this earth. This is where the " if " comes in as a salutary challenge, since continuance in the faith is the most conclusive proof of the reality of conversion. This is especially seen in the Epistle to the Hebrews, where the believers are exhorted to run the race set before them with patience (Heb. 12:11Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)), and to look off unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of faith. And then we are told how God disciplines His children to help them on their heavenly way, to wean them from wrong ways and hindrances in the race.
There is no Scripture than the one we are about to quote, that more vividly and strikingly brings these two sides together. On the one hand is presented the grace of God that never breaks down, the salvation that is never recalled, whilst on the other hand the responsibility of the pilgrim on the heavenly road is pressed, and the discipline of God that will go to the extremest length to preserve that grace to His own.
We read, "Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord... For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that WE SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD." (1 Cor. 11:27-3227Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. (1 Corinthians 11:27‑32)).
It appears these Corinthian believers, who had recently been pagan, bound in superstition and idolatry, were seriously misbehaving themselves at the celebration of the Lord's Supper by indulging in gluttony and drunkenness. For this sad departure from godly behavior the discipline of the Lord came in. We are told that as a result of this, many of the saints were weak and sickly, and if this discipline was not sufficient to effect its purpose, the Lord went to the extreme length of taking these believers from the scene where their carnal ways were bringing such disgrace on the name of the Lord. This is most impressive. These believers were fit for heaven, but certainly not on their own merit, but by the infinite grace of God, and through the virtue of the precious blood of Christ, that cleansed them from ALL SIN. And on no other ground will any of us reach the glory.
On the other hand they were not fitted to remain on earth in testimony, because of the dishonor they were bringing upon the Lord's holy name. See how they were told, that if they would judge themselves, they would not be judged, but when this judgment came, even of removing them by death from the earth, this discipline was carried out, that " THEY SHOULD NOT BE CONDEMNED WITH THE WORLD."
Here is a wonderful blending of the mighty grace of God that saves once and forever, and a loving discipline that would go to extremest lengths to maintain this grace on the side of their earthly life as Christians. Here we cease, but it seems that this last reflection throws a flood of light on one and all of the difficult passages of Scripture we have been examining, we trust, with some measure of profit and helpfulness to our readers, especially to young converts.