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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S
November 1925
The Scriptures are Significant in their Emphasis Dr. F. E. Marsh, London, England The many friends of Dr. Marsh w ill rejoice to know that he has returned to America for a few months’ speaking engagements, in Toronto, Buffalo, Detroit, Kansas City, and other cities. We commend this dear brother to The King’s Business Family as one of the outstanding, thoroughly competent Bible teachers, always ring ing true to the Word of God and with the courage of- his convictions.
JOME passages of Scripture derive their chief importance because of the place in which we find them, such as the 23rd Psalm, having before it the shadow of the Cross iri Psalm 22, and after it the shining of the glory in Psalm 24. Some Scriptures are special in the secret they contain, such as the mysteries or secrets mentioned by Paul (Rom. 16:25; 1 Cor. 15:51; Eph. 1:9; 3:3; 4:9; 5:32; 6 :19 ). Some Scriptures are emphatic in the truth they contain— such as John 3:16, and 1 John 3:16, for they speak of God’s love for man, and the practical outcome of God’s love in man. Some Scrip tures are important because of the time when they were written, such as the timely words of Paul to the- Corinth ians about love’s traits, when there were so many unloving things in their midst; and some Scriptures are weighty because of the words which are employed. There are certain words which only occur once in the New Testament, such as “shedding of blood,” “having made p e a c e,” “brightness,” “forerunner,” “unchangeable,” “breathed on,” and “finisher.” The Greek words thus translated have' an added importance because they all relate to the Lord. Jesus and are of peculiar and pertinent importance,, not only because of their peculiar meaning, but because of the soul of significance found in the body of their occurrence. “Shedding of Blood”—-(Haimatekchusia) Heb. 9:22 The compound word rendered “shedding of blood” (Haimatekchusia) means “an effusion of blood,”— “blood poured out.” One part of the word signifies “blood” and the other “to pour oht.” This word at once points, like a large index finger, to the Old Testament, where we read of the pouring out of the blood. (See Ex. 29:12; Lev. 4:7, 18, 25, 30, 34; 8:15; 9 :9 ). What is the thought? The life given on behalf of another. The red light of Ghrist’s atone ment burns with unmistakable brilliance right through the Word of God, and without it all is darkness and despair. “Having made Peace”—-(Eirenopoieo) Cpl. 1:20 The word signifies “a peacemaker”— that which har monizes, joins, makes one; and we are told how this is done: “By the blood of His Cross.” It is not without sig nificance, when people are talking about making their peace with God, that the Spirit should emphasize that peace is only made by the blood of Christ’s atoning sacrifice. His substitutionary work is the harmonizer of a discordant uni verse, the reconciler to God, the uniter of the human to the Divine, and that which makes one in every way. “Brightness”— (Apaugasma) Heb. 1:4 Christ is said to be “the brightness of God’s glory.” The. word “brightness” is a compound word and means efful gence, an eradication. One part of the word means “away from” and the other means “to beam forth,” “to shine.” Thus, together, we have the thought Of an out flash, the
beaming forth from a given point, like the flash light from a lighthouse. As applied to Christ it means that from Christ shines the very essence and glory of God Himself. . “Forerunner”^ - (Prodomos) Heb. 6:20 A forerunner in the East is one who runs before his master’s carriage, clears the way of all obstruction, announces his master’s coming and prepares for his recep tion. Christ is the Only One who can do and does this for His own. He has cleared the way for us, has announced our coming, and is now preparing for our reception. '“Unchangeable”— (Aparabatos) Heb. 7:24 The word means “not; passing from one to another,” ”not transferable.” Christ’s priesthood is,resident and abiding in Himself, unlike the Aaronic priesthood which descended from sire to son. The permanency of His Priestly service secures for us certainty and continuity of blessing; hence He-saves evermore (Heb. 7:25). “Breathed on”— (Euphusao) John 20:22 Christ’s act in breathing on the disciples was the in-breathing of the Spirit’s life, as the earnest of the new order of things He was ushering in. The literal reading is, “He in-breathed Holy Spirit.” As God breathed into man at the first, and he became a living soul, so Christ in-breathes the life of the Spirit that he may be a living witness. “Finisher’’— (Teleiotes) Heb. 12:2 “One who completes or perfects,” and would be applied to one who coached the athlete in the Grecian games so that he was successfully brought through to the goal and won the prize. Does not this remind us we need Christ for prize-winning, as well as for salvation’s bestowment? All theSe words, only occurring once, not only shine out with unmistakable brilliance, but they tell us that Christ alone is the Answerer for sin, the Obtainer of peace, the Manifester of God, the Securer of blessing, the Exclusive Priest, the BeStower of Spiritual life, and the Enabler to win the prize.
Dr. Marsh is now preparing a series of timely and interesting articles on “Anthropology,” which will commence with the January number of The King’s Business. In order that you may miss none of these articles make certain your subscription is renewed promptly.
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