In order to unfold, somewhat more fully, the subject of “ The two links,” we should like to call our reader’s attention, for a few moments, to a very important passage in the fifth chapter of the First Epistle to the Corinthians. “ For even Christ our passover is slain for us; therefore let us keep the feast.” In this brief quotation, we have a wide range of truth presented. We have, first, a great fact stated, “ Christ our passover is slain;” and, secondly, an earnest appeal, “ Let us keep the feast.” In the former, we have the ground of our security, in the latter, the true secret of personal holiness.
Now, here again, we have the two links, in their proper distinctness, and yet in their proper order. We have a sacrifice and a feast, two things quite distinct, but yet intimately connected. The sacrifice is complete; but the feast is to be celebrated. Such is the divine order. The completeness of the sacrifice secures the believer’s title, and the celebration of the feast involves the whole of the believer’s practical life.
We must be careful not to confound these things. The feast of unleavened bread was founded upon the death of the paschal lamb, and it typified that practical holiness which is to characterize the whole of a Christian’s life down here. “ Christ is slain.” This secures everything as to title. “ When I see the blood, I will pass over you.” God, as a Judge, was fully met and satisfied by the blood of the lamb. The destroying angel passed through the land of Egypt, at the midnight hour, with the sword of judgment in his hand, and the only means of escape was the sprinkled blood. This was divinely sufficient. God had declared, “When I see the blood, I will pass over.” Israel’s salvation rested on God’s estimate of the blood of the lamb. This is a most precious truth for the soul to dwell upon. Mail’s salvation rests upon God’s satisfaction. The Lord be praised! “ Christ our passover is slain for us.” Mark these words, “is slain”—and that, “for 1:3.” This settles everything as to the great and all-important question of salvation from judgment and wrath. Thus the precious link of salvation is formed—a link which can never be broken. The link of eternal life, and the link of eternal salvation, are one and the same. The Lord Jesus Christ—the living Savior—the risen Head, maintains, and ever will maintain, this link in unbroken integrity, as fie says, “ Because I live, ye shall live also.” “ If, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” “ He ever liveth to make intercession for us.’’
And, now, a word or two as to the exhortation of the apostle, “ Therefore let us keep the feast.” Christ keeps us, and we are to keep the feast. He was slain to spread a feast for us, and that feast is a life of personal holiness—practical separation from all evil, Israel’s feast was composed of three things, namely, a roasted lamb, bitter herbs, and unleavened bread. Precious ingredients’ setting forth, in typical language, first, Christ as having endured the wrath of God for us; secondly, those deep, spiritual exercises of heart which flow from our contemplating the cross; and, thirdly, personal holiness, or practical separation from evil. Such was the feast of God’s redeemed; and such is our feast now. Ch! that we may have grace to celebrate it according to its due order! May our loins he girt, our feet shod, and our pilgrim staff in hand.
And be it remembered, it is not a feast celebrated in order to reach a sacrifice; but a sacrifice slain to provide a feast. We must not reverse this order. We are very prone to reverse it, because we are apt to regard God as an exactor, instead of a giver—to make duty the basis of salvation, instead of making salvation the basis of duty.
An Israelite did not put away leaven in order to be saved from the sword of the destroyer, but because he was saved. In other words, there was first the blood-stained lintel, and then, the unleavened bread. These things must not be confounded, neither must they be separated. We are not saved from wrath by unleavened bread, but by a blood-stained lintel; but we can only enjoy the latter as we are diligently and jealously maintaining the former. The two links are ever to stand in their divine order, and in their inseparable connection. Christ Himself infallibly maintains the one; and we, by the grace of His Spirit, are to maintain the other. May He enable us so to do!