(Excerpt)
The Law
Preaches the Gospel
"But,"
says one, "the law says nothing of Christ." No; but all creation does
speak of Christ, proclaiming the power of His salvation. We have seen that the
cross of Christ, "Christ and Him crucified," is to be seen in every leaf
of the forest, and, indeed, in everything that exists. Not only so, but every
fiber of man's being cries out for Christ. Men do not realize it, but Christ is
"the Desire of all nations." It is He alone that "satisfies the
desire of every living thing." Only in Him can relief be found for the
world's unrest and longing. Now since Christ, in whom is peace, "for He is
our peace," is seeking the weary and heavy-laden, and calling them to
Himself, and every man has longings that nothing else in the world can satisfy,
it is evident that if the man is awakened by the law to keener consciousness of
his condition, and the law continues goading him, giving him no rest, and
shutting up every other way of escape, the man must at last find the Door of
Safety, for it always stands open. He is the City of Refuge, to which everyone
pursued by the avenger of blood may flee, sure of finding a welcome. In Christ
alone will the sinner find release from the lash of the law, for in Christ the
righteousness of the law is fulfilled, and by Him it is fulfilled in us. Rom.8:4.
Rom
8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk
not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The law is
so far from requiring men to keep it in order to be saved, as some suppose,
that it will not allow anybody to be saved unless he has "the
righteousness which is of God by faith,"--the faith of Jesus Christ.
When Faith
Is Come
Strangely
enough, many have supposed that there was a definite time fixed for faith to
come. This passage has been "interpreted" to mean that men were under
the law until a certain time in the history of the world, and that at that time
faith came, and then they were henceforth free from the law. The coming of
faith they make synonymous with the manifestation of Christ on earth. We can
not say that anybody ever thought so, for such an "interpretation"
indicates utter absence of thought about the matter. It would make men to be
saved in bulk, regardless of any concurrence on their part. It would have it
that up to a certain time all were in bondage under the law, and that from that
time henceforth all were free from sin. A man's salvation would, therefore,
depend simply on the accident of birth. If he lived before a certain time, he
would be lost; if after, he would be saved. Such an absurdity need not take
more of our time than the statement of it. No one can seriously think of the idea
that the apostle is here speaking of a fixed, definite point of time in the
history of the world, dividing between two so-called "dispensations,"
without at once abandoning it. When,
then, does faith come? "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word
of God." Rom.10:17. Whenever a man receives the Word of God, the word of
promise, which brings with it the fullness of the law, and no longer fights
against it, but yields to it, then faith comes to him. Read the eleventh
chapter of Hebrews, and you will see that faith came from the beginning.
Since the
days of Abel, men have found freedom by faith. The only time fixed is
"now," "to-day." "Now is the accepted time; behold,
now is the day of salvation." "To-day if ye will hear His voice,
harden not your hearts."
2Co_6:2
(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of
salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now
is the day of salvation.)
(Heb
3:15) While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your
hearts, as in the provocation.
Heb
11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.
Heb
11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb
11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word
of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do
appear.
Heb
11:4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain,
by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his
gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Heb
11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was
not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had
this testimony, that he pleased God.
Heb
11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh
to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.
Heb
11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved
with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he
condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by
faith.
Heb
11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he
should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing
whither he went.
Heb
11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange
country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of
the same promise:
Heb
11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and
maker is God.
Heb
11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed,
and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him
faithful who had promised.
Heb
11:12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so
many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea
shore innumerable.
Heb
11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but
having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Heb
11:14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a
country.
Heb
11:15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence
they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
Heb
11:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly:
wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for
them a city.
Heb
11:17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that
had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Heb
11:18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
Heb
11:19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead;
from whence also he received him in a figure.
Heb
11:20 By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to
come.
Heb
11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of
Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Heb
11:22 By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the
children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
Heb
11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his
parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of
the king's commandment.
Heb
11:24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the
son of Pharaoh's daughter;
Heb
11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than
to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb
11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures
in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb
11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for
he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Heb
11:28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood,
lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.
Heb
11:29 By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the
Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
Heb
11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed
about seven days.
Heb
11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not,
when she had received the spies with peace.
Heb
11:32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of
Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and
Samuel, and of the prophets:
Heb
11:33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained
promises, stopped the mouths of lions,
Heb
11:34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out
of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the
armies of the aliens.
Heb
11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were
tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better
resurrection:
Heb
11:36 And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea,
moreover of bonds and imprisonment:
Heb
11:37 They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain
with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being
destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Heb
11:38 (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and
in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
Heb
11:39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith,
received not the promise:
Heb
11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us
should not be made perfect.
Putting on
Christ by Baptism
"As
many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."
"Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were
baptized into His death?" Rom.6:3. It is by His death that Christ redeems
us from the curse of the law; but we must die with Him. Baptism is "the
likeness of His death." We rise to walk "in newness of life,"
even Christ's life. See Gal.2:20.
Gal
2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but
Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the
faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Having put
on Christ, we are one in Him. We are completely identified with Him. Our
identity is lost in His. It is often said of one who has been converted,
"He is so changed you would not know him; he is not the same man."
No, he is not. God has turned him into "another man." Therefore,
being one with Christ, he has a right to whatever Christ has, and a right to
"the heavenly places" where Christ sits. From the prison house of
sin, he is exalted to the dwelling-place of God. This, of course, presupposes
that baptism is with him a reality, not a mere outward form. It is not simply
into the visible water that he is baptized, but "into Christ," into
His life.
Baptism
Doth Save Us
The word
"baptism," which is the Greek word transferred, not translated, has
but one meaning, namely, to plunge into, to dip, to immerse. The Greek
blacksmith baptized his iron in the water, to cool it. The housewife baptized
her dishes in water, in order to clean them; and for the same purpose all would
baptize their hands in water. yea, every man would baptize himself frequently,
going to the baptisterion, that is, the immersing pool, for that purpose. We
have the same word transferred as "baptistery." It was and is a place
where people could plunge in, and be wholly immersed in water.
That is
not being "baptized into Christ," but it indicates what must be our
relation to Him when we are baptized into Him. We must be swallowed up and lost
to sight in His life. Only Christ will henceforth be seen, so that "it is
no more I, but Christ," for "we are buried with Him by baptism into
death."
Rom
6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as
Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also
should walk in newness of life.
Rom.6:4.
baptism doth save us "by the resurrection of Jesus Christ" from the
dead (1Pet. 3:21),
1Pe
3:21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not
the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ
because we
are "baptized into His death," that "like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life." Being reconciled to God by the death of Christ, we are
"saved by His life." Rom.5:10.
Rom
5:10 For 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.
So baptism
into Christ, not the mere form, but the fact, does save us. This baptism is "the answer of a good
conscience toward God." If there be not a good conscience toward God,
there is no Christian baptism. Therefore, the person to be baptized must be old
enough to have a conscience in the matter. He must have a consciousness of sin,
and also of forgiveness by Christ. He must know the life that is manifested,
and must willingly give up his old life of sin for the new life of
righteousness. Baptism is "not the putting away of the filth of the flesh"
(1Pet. 3:21), not the outward cleansing of the body, but the purging of the
soul and conscience. There is a fountain opened for sin and for
uncleanness (Zech.13:1),
Zec
13:1 In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David
and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.
and this
fountain is the blood, the life of Christ. That life flows in a stream from the
throne of God, in the midst of which is the slain Lamb (Rev.5:6),
Rev
5:6 And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four
beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain,
having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent
forth into all the earth.
even as it
flowed from the side of Christ on the cross. When, "through the eternal
Spirit," He had offered Himself to God, there flowed from His side blood
and water (John 19:34), "for there are three who bear witness, the Spirit,
and the water, and the blood; and the three agree in one" (1Joh.5:8,
R.V.). All these are also one with the Word, which is Spirit and life. John
6:63. Christ "loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might
sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the Word."
Eph.5:25,26. Literally, "a water bath in the Word." In being buried
in the water, in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, the
conscientious believer signifies his acceptance of the water of life, the blood
of Christ, which cleanses from all sin, and that he gives himself to live
henceforth by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. From that time
he disappears from sight, and only the life of Christ is manifested in his
mortal flesh.
One in
Christ, the Seed
"There
is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male
nor female; for ye are all one in Christ Jesus." "There is no
difference." This is the key-note of the Gospel. All are alike sinners,
and all are saved in the same way. They who would make a distinction on the
ground of nationality, claiming that there is something different for the Jew
than for the Gentile, might just as well make a difference on the ground of
sex, claiming that women can not be saved in the same way and at the same time
as men, or that a servant can not be saved in the same way as his master. No;
there is but one way, and all human beings, of whatever race or condition, are
equal before God. "Ye are all one in Christ Jesus," and Christ is the
One. So it is that "He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one,
And to thy Seed, which is Christ." "For ye are all one in Christ
Jesus. And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according
to the promise." There is but one seed, but it embraces all who are
Christ's.
Only One
Man
In putting
on Christ, we "put on the new man, which after God is created in
righteousness and true holiness." Eph.4:24. He has abolished in His flesh
the enmity,--the carnal mind,--"for to make in Himself of twain one new
man." Eph.2:15. He alone is the real man,--"the Man Christ
Jesus." Outside of Him there is no real manhood. We come unto "a
perfect man" only when we arrive at "the measure of the stature of
the fullness of Christ." Eph.4:13. In the fullness of time God will gather
together in one all things in Christ. There will be but one Man, and only one
Man's righteousness, even as the seed is but one. But "if ye be Christ's,
then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise."
"Until
the Seed Should Come."
It needs
not many words now to determine what is meant by the phrase, "till the
seed should come to whom the promise was made." We know what the seed
is,--all who are Christ's,--and we know that it has not yet come in its
fullness. To be sure, Christ was once manifested on earth in the flesh, but He
did not receive the promised inheritance, any more than Abraham did. Abraham
had not so much as to put his foot on (Acts 7:5),
Act
7:5 And he gave him none inheritance in it, no, not so much as to set his
foot on: yet he promised that he would give it to him for a possession, and to
his seed after him, when as yet he had no child.
and Christ
had not where to lay His head. Moreover, Christ can not come into the
inheritance until Abraham does also, for the promise was "to Abraham and
to his seed." The Lord by the prophet Ezekiel spoke of the inheritance at
the time when David ceased to have a representative on his throne on earth, and
He foretold the overthrow of Babylon, Persia, Greece, and Rome, in these words:
"Remove the diadem, and take off the crown; this shall not be the same;
exalt him that is low, and abase him that is high. I will overturn, overturn,
overturn it; and it shall be no more, until He come whose right it is; and I
will give it Him." Eze.21:26,27. So
Christ sits on His Father's throne, "from henceforth expecting till His
enemies be made His footstool." Soon will He come, but not until the last
soul has accepted Him that can by any possibility be induced to accept
salvation. Those who are led by the Spirit of God, are the sons of God, and joint-heirs
with Christ, so that Christ can not come into the inheritance before they do.
The seed is one, not divided. When He comes to execute judgment, and to slay
those who said, "We will not have this Man to reign over us," He
comes "with ten thousands of His holy ones." Jude 14. Then will the seed be complete, and the
promise will be fulfilled. And until that time the law will faithfully perform
its task of stirring up and pricking the consciences of sinners, giving them no
rest until they become identified with Christ, or cast Him off altogether. Do
you accept the terms? Will you cease your complaints against the law which
would save you from sinking into a fatal sleep? And will you in Christ accept
its righteousness? Then, as Abraham's seed, and an heir according to the
promise, you can rejoice in your freedom from the bondage of sin,
singing:-- "I'm the child of a
King, The child of a King, With Jesus my Saviour, I'm the child of a
King."
The Glad
Tidings
By E. J.
WAGGONER
(Excerpt- To be continued)
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