December, 1933
T H E K I N G ' S B U S I N E S S
415
profession.” As Apostle, He represented God before men, revealing, redeeming. In that capacity, He met the need o f the sinner. As High Priest, He represents man before God, interceding and advocating, and in that capacity He meets the need o f the saint. His advo cacy yonder, based upon His reconciliation here, secures for us at least five things: First, freedom from condemnation: “ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which, are in Christ Jesus.” “ Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand o f God, who also maketh inter cession for us.” Second, absolute justification: “ Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justifica tion.” “ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Third, individual representation: “ We have an ad
receive pow er,. . . and honor, and glory, and blessing.” All hail the power of Jesus’ name I Let angels prostrate fall;
Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of all.
P ractical A pplication What is the application o f this truth to us? It is a challenge, first, to consecration to Him. God hath made Him both Lord and Christ. Have you ? The Scriptures make Him preeminent. Have you? Is He both Saviour and Sovereign in your experience? “ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies o f God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, ac ceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” That is the secret o f purity. He cleanses the life in which He is crowned. It is the secret o f peace, for He keeps them in perfect peace whose mind is stayed
vocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous,” who has gone “ into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence o f God for us.” Fourth, unfailing preservation: “ I . . . am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” “ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence o f his glory with exceeding joy, . . . be glory . . . now arid ever.” Fifth, ultimate glorification: “ Fa ther, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am ; that they may behold my glory.” “ Whom he justified, them he also glorified.”
upon Him. “ And the peace o f God which passeth all understanding, shall keep [guard] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” It is the secret o f passion. “ Y e shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come up on you.” The Holy Ghost empowers the life in which Christ is preeminent. “ There cafne a time,” said John Wes ley, “ when I gave all the possibilities o f head, and heart, and hand in abso lute consecration to Christ, and was born anew unto power.” In the second place, it is a chal lenge to manifestation o f Him. As the body is the medium for the manifesta tion o f the spirit, so the Christian is the medium for the manifestation o f Christ. “ For me to live,” said Paul,
P reeminent in P roclamation Christ is preeminent in the voice o f apostolic proc lamation. Peter’s message on the day of Pentecost was fragrant and full o f Christ. Paul said: “ I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ there. These Spirit-filled men did not preach salvation by character, creed, cul ture, or conduct. They preached salvation by Christ, and the Holy Spirit set the seal o f His approval upon them. Gospel substitutes are emptying our churches. “ I,” said Jesus, “ if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” There is one message for which human hearts are aching, for which tear-wet eyes are looking, for which men deep down in sin are longing, and that message is summed up in Him whose name is the Sweetest note in seraph song, Sweetest name on mortal tongue; Sweetest carol ever sung, Jesus, blessed Jesus. P reeminent in H eaven ’ s A doration Christ is preeminent as the Object of heaven’s ad oration. “ And they sung,” saith the seer o f Patmos, “ a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out o f every kin dred, and tongue, and people, and nation. . . and I heard the voice o f many angels round about the throne . . . the number o f them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands o f thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to
“ is Christ.” In other words, it is Christ living over again in me. His life I live “ yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.” Not I, but Christ, Be honored, loved, exalted. Not I, but Christ, Be seen, be known, be heard. Christ Jesus was under the shadow o f Calvary, and this was the record He was handing back to the Father: “ I have glorified thee on the earth: . . . I have mani fested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me.” “ The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom o f the Father, he hath declared him.” “ He that hath seen me hath seen the Father.” The only thing that counts, said the Apostle Paul, is that “ Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.” W e have abundant opportunity to do one of two things—to manifest ourselves, or to manifest our Saviour. Third, it is a challenge to ministration for Him. “ As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.” Every Christian is a sent one— sent on the same mis sion as his Saviour, namely, “ to seek and to save that which was lost.” Finally it is a challenge to expectation o f Him. “ For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungod liness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, right eously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” He Him self has said, “ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again.” “ Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”
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