T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S «A n d uuto them th a t lo ok fo r h im shall he appear- the second tim e w ith o u t sin unto salvation.” Although we are already saved, is there then a sense in which salvation is not entirely complete? Rom. 13:11; 1 Pet. 1:5: « F o r n o w is our s'alvation nearer than w hen w e believed.” «W h o are kept b y the pow er of God th ro u g h fa ith unto salvatio n ready to be revealed in the la st tim e.” (This is the glorification side of sal vation.) Note 1 Thess. 1:9-10: “ Ye turned to God” (past tense) “ to serve the living and true God” (present tense) “ and to wait'for his Son from heaven” (future tense). Note also 2 Cor. 1:10: “Who delivered us”cS-“ and doth deliver Us”— “ will yet deliver us.” Chastening after all is only an evi dence of the Lord’s love for His own, “ For whom the Lord loveth He chasten- eth.” Some years ago in the city of Pottsville, Pa., the broken end of a high tension wire was found lying upon the pavement, along which Mr. Frederick Hildebrandt, chief engineer of a promi nent business house, was walking, un mindful of the fact. Mr. C. F. Schlitzer, who was some distance away, saw the danger and yelled to the .man to avoid the live wire. His voice was drowned by the noise of an approaching engine. Seeing that Hildebrandt was walking into sheer death, Schlitzer picked up a stone and threw it, striking Hildebrandt on the chest. This caused him to look up, at which Schlitzer frantically beck oned to him to avoid the live wire. The warning came just as he was about to step on the wire. Hildebrandt, with tears streaming down his cheeks, thanked Schlitzer for having saved his life. How often the Lord in the use of the chastening rod either saves us from some terrible calamity or else de livers us from some trouble after we have fallen into it.—-Chas. F. Reitiel. "4si GOD’S CHASTENING
926 Is it therefore proper for a believer to speak of his salvation in the PAST TENSE? If Cor. 1:18; 2 Tim. 1:9: “ F o r the preach ing of the cro** is to them th a t perish foolishness; h ut unto us w h ic h are saved it is the pow er of God.” «W h o h ath saved us and called us w ith an h o ly callin g .” (This is the justification aspect of sal vation. ) Acts 13:39; Rom. 5>1: “ A n d b y h im a ll th a t believe are Justi fied from a ll th in s «, lto m w h ic h ye eoald mot be Instilled b y the la w ot Moses.” “Th e re fo re being Justified b y fa ith , we h a re peace w ith God th ro u g h our Lo rd Jesus C h rist.” 2. As to the PRESENT TENSE of our salvation, what aspect of Christ’s woTk enters into it? Rom. 5:10: « F o r if, w he n w e w e re enemies, w e w ere reconciled to G od b y the death of his Son, m uch m ore, being reconciled, w e shall be saved b y his life.” - Where is Christ living and what will He do for us after we are saved? 1 John 2:1: “A n d If a n y m an sin, w e have an advo cate w ith the F a th e r, Jesus C h ris t the righteous.” . For what have we been predestinated (or called out)? Rom. 8:29: “F o r w h om he did forek now , he also did predestinate to be conform ed to the im age of his Son, th a t he m ig h t be the firstborn am ong m a n y brethren.” If we yield ourselves to the Holy Spirit, what will be the present aspect of our salvation? 2 Cor. 3:18: “ B u t w e a ll, w ith open face beholding as In a glass the g lo ry of the L o rd , are changed Into the same Im age from g lo ry to g lo ry , even as b y the S p irit of the L o rd .” In this sense, what are we doing in every-day life? Phil. 2:12: “W o rk out y o u r ow n salvation w ith fear and trem b lin g .” And who is working IN that which we are working OUT? Phil. 2:13: “ F o r It is G od w h ic h w o rk e th in you both to w ill and to do of his good pleas ure,” (This is the sanctification side of our salvation.) 3. As to the FUTURE TENSE of salvation, what time does it await? 1 John 3:2; Heb. 9:28: “ Beloved, n o w are we the sons of God, and It doth not yet appear w h a t w e shall he i but. w e k n o w th a t, w he n he sh all ap pear, w e shall be lik e h im ; fo r we shall see h im as he is.”
Made with FlippingBook Online newsletter