Christ Engraved on the Heart
2 Corinthians 3:23
The Christian is a representative of Christ, just as much as the tables of stone were the representation of the law. Christ is engraved on the heart by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the Christian is known and read of all men. The world ought to see Christ engraved on the heart of a Christian, just as much as Israel could see the letter of the law on the tables.
It is written on the “tables of the heart” by the “Spirit of the living God.” Thus merely outward conduct (though there must be that for the world to see) will not do, but Christ within, as the motive and end of all we do.
God did not send His Son into the world to bring in a negative Christianity. There must be that result which is worthy of the work. It must be evident through the power of the Holy Spirit. There will be failure, for we are poor, feeble creatures, but the world will see where we are going by the road that we take. A man may get on slowly or stumble, but it is evident what road he is taking.
We look and see that we are devotedly following Christ, with full purpose of heart. We say, “This one thing I do.” But we must take care at the same time not to get into legal bondage by this standard. If I say, “Here is a rule of conduct; follow it,” this cannot reach the heart and the affections. The ministration of the letter brings only failure, condemnation and death, for it prescribes a rule which man, being a sinner, can never follow. It does not change man, but it puts him under death; it proves him “ungodly” and “without strength.”
The Ministration of Death
We may turn even Christ into that letter of condemnation; we may take His life, for instance, and make it our law. Nay, we may turn even the love of Christ into our law; we may say, “He has loved me and done all this for me, and I ought to love Him and do so much for Him in return for this love.” Thus, if we turn His love into a rule of life, it becomes the ministration of death, for the only thing a rule can do is to condemn. With the children of Israel, Moses put a veil upon his face, for they could not bear the sight of the glory — it condemned them. Man tries either to hide his condemnation from God or his conscience from His condemnation. He excludes himself from God — from the glory of His holiness and from His glory as seen in Jesus. And when His glory shall be revealed in the end, it will only bring out condemnation more fully.
The Ministration of the Spirit
and of Righteousness
In contrast with this ministration of death and condemnation, we see the ministration of the Spirit and of righteousness. The whole life of Jesus was a manifestation of grace. He laid Himself aside for others. He gave Himself to all who came to Him. He had no time so much as to eat; in the midst of a world of wickedness He was the perfect manifestation of the goodness of God. And this was not all: He died for sin, He ascended into heaven, and He sent down the Holy Spirit as a witness to His glory and as the minister of righteousness. So it is now God ministering, not requiring.
If I am brought to look at Jesus, I can say, He bore my sins. I did them, but He bore them; He gave His soul an offering for my sins. He has taken the whole charge of my sin. I trace my sins up to the cross and there I have done with them. They are all gone.
Where, then, do I see the glory? It is in the face of Jesus Christ who has put away all those sins which were revealed and condemned at Sinai. He has entered into heaven because they are put away. In Philippians 2 we see Christ in heaven, not only in virtue of the glory of His Person, but because of the work He has accomplished. “Wherefore also God hath highly exalted Him.”
We are thus able not only to bear the sight of that glory of God, but to rejoice in it. Our souls rest in it. We do not ask to have it veiled, but that we may see every ray of it. Our hearts can satiate themselves there, because it is the testimony to the love of God and the perfect putting away of sin.
What a Christ I Have!
There is also the ministration of righteousness. “Seeing then we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech.” It is not a little hope here and a little despair there, but it is a message of perfect righteousness to the vilest. By the obedience of One many were made righteous. Now, it is God putting in fruit and not requiring righteousness.
What is the practical effect of this work of Christ received in the heart? It is not to make a man careless about sin — not to give him liberty to sin because Christ has borne the wrath due to it. The last verse shows how we are made this living epistle. Contemplating Christ we become like Him. If the Spirit takes of the things of Christ and shows them to me, I can say, “What a Christ I have!” And there is the spirit of holiness at once. I long for Christ and look at Christ, and thus I become like Him. The very thing which brings an accomplished righteousness to my conscience makes me like Him. Then notice there is no veil on the heart nor on the glory. The Holy Spirit dwelling in us has taken it away. And it is said of Israel, “When they shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away.” When Moses went in to the Lord, he always took off the veil, but the children of Israel could not bear the sight of the glory, so he put it on when he appeared to them.
Nothing Between Me and God but Love
Then what is the consequence of this ministration of the Spirit? What follows my knowing that I am the righteousness of God in Christ? I know that God delights in me. I have a constraint upon my heart to serve Him and follow Him. If I think of His love, have I any fear? Though I do fail constantly, God has no afterthought about me or about my sins. There is no uncertainty — nothing is between me and God but the love which has placed me there. I am without spot and in perfect freedom, for He has given Christ for me. It is now, not God requiring anything from me, but God giving things to me, that His Son may be glorified in me. It is not that man may be glorified, but His Son Jesus glorified. God is making a marriage for His Son. We have to be the epistle of Christ. We have this privilege, to glorify and manifest Christ. We should be delighted to be this epistle, cost what it may. Christ died for me, and I have to represent Him. Of course, I may often fail, but the heart at liberty before God will run in the way of His commandments, because the affections are set upon God and the glory of Christ. My life, my daily path, must be an answer to the love of God. I am debtor to Christ, for He loved me and gave Himself for me. What an amazing privilege to be permitted to glorify Him in any little way in our path down here!
J. N. Darby (abridged from Collected Writings, Vol. 21, p. 241)