THE KING’S BUSINESS
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outward things,, learning, eloquence, fine appearance philosophical ability, etc. This was glorying “in appearance.” But in their hearts they were not conscious of absolute sincerity toward God, as was Paul. There were those who accused Paul, in his glow ing earnestness of enthusiasm, of being beside himself (cf. Acts 26:24). Paul answers: “Well, if I am beside myself it is unto God.” A good answer for earnest and enthusiastic Christians' today to give to the cool-headed (and cold-hearted) ones who accuse them of madness, is the answer Paul gives here. But Paul too could on occasion be “of sober mind” (R. V.), calm and self-possessed, and he adds: “When. I am calm and.self-possessed it is unto you (i, e., fof your sake).” Even when one is glowing with-love and nearly burst ing with fullijess of joy, he must often keep calm externally for the sake of his hearers. Paul explains why it. was that at times he was almost beside hipiself with earnestness and enthusiasm. His explana tion was this:^ “The love of Christ con- straineth us (compresses us into the one channel of love and devotion and enthu siasm for Himself);” The reason why the Christ thus constrained him was because he judged that “if Christ died .for all, then all died.” • When Jesus Christ died on the cross we died, for He died as our represent ative, and we died in Him. In Him we died to sin, to self, to everything but Him self (Rom. 6:2, 6 , 10, 11; Gal. 2:20, R. V. ; Col. 3 :3). When the Lord Jesus died, “He died for all.” The word translated “for” means more exactly, “in behalf of.” Our Lord’s ,death was in behalf of every man (1 John 2:2; Heb. 2:9). However, in this .immediate i connection it is His death in behalf of all believers that is in view. Our Lord’s purpose in dying for all was that they who live (those who obtain life in Him) should not longer live unto them selves, but unto Him who died in their behalf ‘(making full atonement for their sin, 2 Cor. 5 :21; Gal. 3 :13), and rose again. Are we who claim to live through Christ living in this way, living for the Lord
Jesus, living for Him who died in our behalf and rose again? Saturday, February 16 . 2 Cor. 5 : 16 . , Because Paul thus judged that all for whom Christ died, died ifi Him, he Hence forth would know no man after the flesh (i. e., according to what he was outwardly,, in nationality, gifts, appearance, position, or any, natural advantage or disadvantage cf. Gal. 3:28). All believers died in Christ, and as these things do not count. after death, so they had really ceased to be and we should not therefore judge according to them. We should judge men, not accord ing to what they are naturally (“accord ing to the, flesh”), but according to what they are by resurrecting or regenerating grace (whajgthey are according to the Spirit). In former days Paul had esti mated the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself according to the flesh, (but now he knew Him in that way no more.' There are many who wish we had an authentic picture of Jesus. It is well we have not. We would think of Him according to that picture, according to the flesh, as He was in His humiliation. Doubtless no picture that we have bears the slightest resemblance to how the Lord Jesus really looked. Further more, we should think of our Lord Jesus, not as He was in the days of His humilia tion in the flesh, but as He is now in the glory. We ought to -recognize Him and estimate Him and love Him and. worship. Him as He was spiritually even when He was in the flesh, and He is in every respect now. We should think of Him in the infinite,. Divine - spiritual glories of His- person. There is a tendency in our day to speak of Him as Jesus, and the lowly Nazarene, the meek and lowly Jesus, etc. We should not so think and speak of Him. We should no longer know Him according to the flesh, but as He is in His Divine resurrection glory. Sunday, February 17 . 2 Cor. 5 : 17 - 19 . To be “in Christ” js to be in vital union
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