One scarcely knows the history of what is called the Church, of what is the Church as to its responsibility, nor the ways of the clergy and indeed of all. We are happy to have only the Word to follow, and to know that it is the word of God. What an immense blessing to have His word, the revelation of His grace towards us, of Christ the perfect One, of the counsels of God, and what God has ordained for our glory. It is in His kindness towards us that, in the ages to come, He will show forth the immense riches of His grace.
From the beginning, trusting the enemy rather than God, man alienated himself from God, and the two questions: Where art thou? What hast thou done? showed where man had got to. Responsibility completely tested until the rejection of Christ; then, God glorified in righteousness, His love, and the counsels of His grace from before the foundation of the world have been manifested. That puts the gospel in a very special place, and then shows the relations of responsibility and sovereign grace with great distinctness.
More than this, on the glory of God there is no longer any veil. Henceforward His wrath is revealed from heaven; but also the glory of God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ, the witness that all the sins of those who see it are removed from before God; then, all that God is morally is fully revealed and established. We know Him according to that glory, and our relations with God, our standing before God, are founded upon it. We are transformed from glory to glory according to that image, for we can look at it. It is the proof of our redemption, and the proof that our sins no longer exist before God. We are also renewed in knowledge after the image of Him who created us; we are created according to God in righteousness and holiness of truth; for, according to that glory, He hath shined in our hearts in order to set forth this glory of Christ in the world. The Christian is like a lantern: the light is within, but for the purpose of shining out; but dim glasses (the flesh if it interferes) will prevent the light from shining forth as it should. Thus that which is given us becomes the occasion of inward exercise; the treasure is in an earthen vessel, and this must be only a vessel. We must be dead in order that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal body.
It is not only a communication of what is in Christ as knowledge; but if it is real we drink of that which makes the river. It is a communication which exercises the soul, makes it grow, and judges the flesh in all things in order that we may not mar the testimony which is thus committed to us. In Christ Himself the life was the light of men, and the light which we receive must become life in us, the formation of Christ in us, and the flesh must be held in death. “Death worketh in us,” says Paul, “but life in you.”
This is the history of ministry, of true ministry. That which we communicate is our own; it enlightens us, but it works in us morally. The glory of Christ is realized in us, and all that does not suit Him is judged, Now flesh never suits Him.
The death of Christ put an end to all that was Paul, so that the life of Christ acted through him in others, and nothing but that. This was saying a great deal. Thus in this respect there may be progress. As regards my standing before God, I reckon that I am dead; as regards my life, death works in me. There is the vessel, but it must be only a vessel, and the life of Christ acts in it and by it. If the vessel acts, it spoils all. As to fact, we live; but we must always bear about death, in order that the glory of Christ, the image of God, may shine for others. But all the glory of God is revealed. There is no longer any veil over it on God’s side; if it be veiled, the veil is on the heart of man by unbelief. An all-important truth.
Under the law, man could not go in; God did not come out. Now He has come out, but humbling Himself, to bring grace. Then, the work of redemption being accomplished, He has gone in, and there is no veil over the glory.
J. N. D.