February, 1934
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
49
J e s u s C h r is t R e v e a l e d i n a S a v in g M is s io n W,hat must we believe about the mission o f Jesus Christ? Although there is much difference o f opinion re garding what He came to do or what He actually accom plished, the teaching o f Scripture on this important ques tion is clear. The fourteenth verse o f the second chapter of He brews suggests the purpose o f Christ’s coming to earth; His complete mission is stated here. Note it carefully, and, if possible, mark it in every B ible: “ Forasmuch then as the children are partakers o f flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part o f the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power o f death, that is, the devil.” His death is mentioned 275 times in the New Tes tament alone, and there are many typical revelations o f this event in the pages o f the Old Testament. The question naturally arises: Why was His death necessary? The Scripture hastens to answer that God’s holiness demanded it. “ Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for u s : for it is writ ten, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree” (Gal. 3 : 13). Only the sinless Son of God— “ the only begotten” One— could assume our sins in His death. Christ died to bring us back to God, and He has! Paul speaks o f our Lord as the One who “ gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father” (Gal. 1 :4). The true children of God are not slaves o f circum stances. The Saviour came not only that we might have life, but also that we might have it more abundantly, and that we might be delivered from the present evil world. Christ’s mission required not only that He should die, but also that He should rise again. His resurrection cli maxed and sealed our redemption. It was a guarantee of our resurrection. Paul declares, “ He which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus” (2 Cor. 4 :14 ). Because o f His resurrection, we have now a High Priest at the right hand o f God, a living Intercessor. “ Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Heb. 7 :25). The mission o f the Lord Jesus Christ was to die for the sins o f the world and to rise again for the justification of all who will receive His saving ministry. J e s u s C h r is t R e v e a l e d A s t h e C o m in g O n e In spite of the fact that the Word o f God is very ex plicit about the return of Jesus Christ to earth, many doubt the truth o f His coming. A favorite chapter in the Bible has these words in its opening paragraph: “ If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself .” One o f the best known Epistles con tains this comforting promise: “ Unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time.” In another, we find also the clear statement: “ For the Lord himself shall de scend from heaven with a shout, with the voice o f the archangel, and with the trump o f G od : and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16, 17). These passages do not refer to death, or to the de struction o f Jerusalem, or to Pentecost. They refer to some sudden glorious event in the future when the same Jesus who was seen to ascend into heaven will be seen to descend for His church. This great event is mentioned 318 times in the New Testament and many times in the Old. More of the Old Testament prophecies about the coming of Christ refer to the second advent than to the one which has already occurred.
O u r P e r s o n a l R e l a t io n s h ip As we study the revelation which God has given con cerning His Son, the Holy Spirit becomes our Teacher and leads us into joyful acceptance of those great truths which we must believe about our Lord Jesus Christ. We find comfort in the fact o f His complete humanity—-His understanding o f our limitations. W e rejoice in the knowl edge o f His absolute deity-SHis worthiness of all wor ship and devotion. W e bow in praise for His perfect atonementwHis assumption o f our sins and His accom plishment o f our complete deliverance. W e look forward to His coming again—-His fulfillment of every word o f Scripture prophecy. Because this is our position, our main concern shall be whether we are abiding in Christ as a branch abides in the vine. I f we are, whether He comes in this generation, as is quite possible, or whether the youngest of us pass through the veil o f death, we can con fidently say with Paul: “ I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, . . . nor any other creature, shall be able to sep arate us from the love o f God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” “ Now look o u t !’ You are getting yourself into a corner, and it is the most blessed corner you were ever in.” That minister kneeled down and for the first time in his life, he really believed “ the Lord is my shepherd,” meeting all his needs. From that crisis he rose in radiant victory. Previously he was doing what many Christians are doing, saying he believed it. But how do we know Christ is meeting every need ? Because H e says s o ! That is taking Him at His word. That is faith. V ic t o r y a n d t h e S p i r it o f G r a c e This Spirit-filled life is not yet a sinless life, for men in this body; there is a future tense to our salvation. In this present age, the difference between a defeated life — a life walking after the flesh— and a life of victory, is not that one Christian commits some sins, and the other commits no sins; nor is it that the one commits many sins, and the other fewer sins, though that may be true. It is a difference in the way the life is lived, whether in the power o f God or in self effort. That is the reason why many a Christian has been transformed, though not made sinless, since he dis covered that the Christian life is to be lived by grace, and that the grace o f God is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). To abide in Christ we need faithfulness in prayer and Bible study and Christian service. Prayer and Bible study are not a substitute for a needed crisis o f surrender and faith, as the secret o f victory, but without them continu ance in victory is not possible. When we are born o f the Spirit, we are sealed with the Spirit till the day o f redemption; we now have the earnest o f the Spirit, a foretaste o f the great inheritance to come (Eph. 1:13, 14; 2 Cor. 1:22; 5 :5 ). And the earnest of the Spirit is a mighty thing. W e have never entered into all the possibilities o f present victory and power. I f we have not had that crisis o f surrender and faith, followed by quiet thanksgiving that the Lord is our Shep herd, let us take Him at His word, yield to Him, and thank Him now. I f we have had such an experience, let us not make the fatal mistake of judging that we have had all that God the Holy Spirit can give us. Let us unite with other Christians in prayer for a great spiritual awakening that will open our eyes to the present possibilities o f grace— the grace o f God for victory in our personal lives, and for His mighty work o f winning souls through us. GOD’S W AY TO VICTORIOUS LIVING [Continued from page 47]
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