THE K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S m ent depends upon our state. Nothing can touch the one. The weight of a feath er may distu rb th e other. Our standing depends upon th e finished work of Christ. Our sta te depends more or less upon our environm ent and may even be due to th e condition of the weather. Christ never changes. We are saved in Christ, not in ourselves. V. W e ought to distinguish between possessors and professors. Not every one who professes to be a Christian pos sesses etern al life. P rofessors are a g reat multitude. Possessors are a little flock. The fig tree w ith its luxu r ia n t foliage bu t lack of fru it is a fitting type of those who profess godliness in th e ir outw ard life but m anifest no fru it in th e ir inward character. It is one thing to have one’s name on th e reg ister of a church on earth , bu t quite ano ther thiiig to have it w ritten in th e Lamb’s book of life. It is one thing to say, “Lord, Lord,” w ith th e lips and to bend th e knee w ith all outw ard semblance of devotion, bu t it is quite ano th er to offer th e sincere homage of the h ea rt and to worship ih sp irit and in tru th . We may not always be able to detect th e differ ence bu t the eye of God perceives the hidden motives and the Word of God discerns th e though ts and in ten ts of th e h eart. VI. Salvation is n o t to be identified w ith rew ards. We are saved by faith. We are rew arded according to our works. Our salvation depends upon the fidelity of God. Our rew ard depends upon our own fidelity. The possibility of forfeiting eternal life does no t seem to be contemplated in S cripture because our life is hid w ith Christ in God, hut the danger of forfeiting the M aster’s approval and losing the manifold and glorious rewards, is frequently enforced and strongly emphasized. This is the fear expressed by Paul, th a t afte r he has preached to others, he m ight be himself, not castaway, bu t disapproved. God has provided the highest induce ments to activity and fidelity in these
516 instantaneous, the o ther is gradual. One is negative, the o ther is positive. One is subtraction, the o th er addition. One is the act of God-like regeneration, th e o th er is th e work of man-like re pentance. Holiness includes both, and yet much confusion arises from a fail ure to recognize the essential character of each and distinguish between them. II. P rie st and p resby ter a re n o t th e same, in Scripture. P riest belongs to the old Covenant, presbyter to .the new. A prëshyter is called a pastor, bishop, m inister, etc., bu t never a priest. Not every Christian is called to be a pres byter, bu t every believer is a priest. There is no difference, for all are made kings and priests unto God. A failure to distinguish between these two things th a t God has pu t asunder is responsible for th e superstitious follies of p riest cra ft and th e mischievous erro rs of sacerdotalism th a t have been produc tive of so much sp iritu al disaster. III. The old n a tu re and th e new n a tu re in th e believer a re to be kep t rigidly apart. F rom th e old n atu re all sin arises. The new n atu re never sins, for if is born of God, and “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin because he is horn of God.” The old n atu re is condemned and crucified. The new n atu re is baptized w ith the Holy Ghost.. The old n atu re m anifests the works of th e flesh, catalogued by Paul in Gal. 5:19-21. The new n atu re p ro duces the fru it of th e Spirit, specified in Gal. 5:22, 23. The old n atu re is carnal, sensual and devilish and is to be subdued and repudiated. The new n atu re is sp iritual, holy and Divine and is to be developed and dignified forever. IV. The stand ing an d sta te of the C hristian con stitu te an o th er Divine disjunction. Our standing is before God and is the work of God. It is unchangeable and eternal. Our sta te is determ ined by our experience, com posed of our fram es and feeling and is variable as the winds. Our salvation depends upon our standing. Our enjoy-
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