January 1931
20
T h e K i n g ’ s B u s i n e s s
demptive scheme. We are not saved by baptism, but by the precious blood of Christ, shed for us upon Calvary’s cross. SHALL BE DAMNED—That is, he shall suffer the eternal consequences of that condemnation under which he already rests ' (cf. John 3:18). Eternal life and eternal damnation both begin in this life, as well as extend to the life to come. 17, 18—THESE SIGNS SHALL FOLLOW—Not “you” (the early church) but “them that believe.” No doubt they were intended to follow believers- in all ages. 19— AFTER THE LORD HAD SPOKEN—There is a hiatus here. St. Mark omits the meeting in Galilee, the morning meeting by the lake, and the detailed account of the ascension with its renewal of the preaching commission to the apostles at Bethany. RECEIVED UP INTO HEAVEN—Not merely “went up,” but was “received” by a waiting and expectant com pany. This reception is hinted at in all the accounts of the ascension. He was “carried up” (Lk. 24:51) ; “taken up, and a cloud received him” (Acts 1:9). It was an honored and tri umphal entry, as had been prophesied1of Him ages before (cf. Psa. 24:7; 68:18). SAT ON THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD— This also was in accordance with prophecy (cf. Psa. 110:1) -; Not the Son of God only, but also the Son of man. Humanity, “created in the image of and for communion with God” fell, and, falling, became the child of the devil and a citizen of hell; hu manity, redeemed and saved, sits in its great Representative at the right hand of God. There also, in due season, shall all those who become conquerors through Christ Jesús sit (cf. Rev. 3:21). 20— PREACHED EVERYWHERE—They did not neglect the great missionary command, as the later church did, when its love had grown cold and its religion formal. WORKING WITH THEM—As He always does (though unseen) with every faith ful proclaimer of the gospel. CONFIRMING THE WORD WITH SIGNS—The signs that follow, and have always fol lowed, the proclamation of the gospel are at once its credentials and its unassailable confirmation. No other evidences of the real truth of Christianity need be sought. Its effects and its re sults wherever it is preached in its purity and simplicity are amply sufficient for any candid and truly inquiring mind. AMEN —This is the signature which occurs at the end of each of the four Gospels (and at the end of the book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ) ; the signature meaning “yea verily” (which is the true interpretation of the word “amen”) ; the attesting and confirming signature of Him who is Himself “The Amen” (cf. Rev. 3:14). “He that hath an ear, let him hear,” and “let all the people say ‘AMEN.’ ” [F in is ]
-jr-Not only to the ten [Thomas was not present (cf. John 20:24)] but to- all the disciples who were there. REPROACHED THEM —The word means “to reproach”’ as well as “to rebuke,” and Christ’s rebukes to His own people are always of the more tender nature of reproaches f&sorrowful rebukes, not severe ones. He grieves rather than is angry. WITH THEIR UNBELIEF —There is nothing that troubles Him sq much as want of faith, because there is nothing so detrimental to the spiritual life and happiness of men. HARDNESS OF HEART—The condition of the heart of stone, petrified against spiritual impressions by the indulgence in sin : the condition of that heart which God has promised to remove from His own people (cf. Ezek. 36: 25-27). BECAUSE THEY BELIEVED NOT THEM, etc.— They had rejected the testimony of His witnesses; which has . bben the crying sin of all the ages from that day to this. WHICH HAD SEEN HIM—That their witness might become effectual, He had vouchsafed to appear to them; He expects us to accept their testimony without manifestation. The confessed unwill ingness of the disciples to believe in the resurrection is one of the strongest proofs of its reality. They did not imagine they saw that which they expected to see, for they did not expect it. Nor was it the momentary hallucination of one supposed vision; it; had been repeated, and repeated, in order to convince them. Nor did the appearances occur in one place only, but in several, and at intervals of time. Emotional hysteria was out of the question. 15— SAID UNTO THEM—TJnto them, i.e., to the ten and to the rest of the assembled disciples. The apostolic com- mission is not merely to the eleven, but to the whole infant church, including women; and this commission conveyed the power to forgive and to retain sins (cf. John 20: 19-23). There was, therefore, no establishment of a sacerdotal order of absolv ing priests; whatever the words may mean, the whole church, including laymen and laywomen, has the power to forgive or retain sins. GOING INTO ALL THE WORLD—This was clearly a command to the church of the future as well as to that of the day when it was spoken; the small band then pres-: ent could not possibly go into all' the world. PROCLAIM YE THE GOSPEL—“Ye,” not the apostles alone, but all the disciples. The duty of the proclamation of the Gospel is incumbent upon every Christian. THE GOSPEL—i. e., the good news, as the word in the original Greek signifies. This is the Gospel of the risen Christ, which involves and should include that of the crucified Christ, with all the possible and actual results of both. TO EVERY CREATURE—Clearly the Gospel is not for a se lect few, but for all who will accept it, Jew and Gentile, bond and free. [This commission was evidently repeated to .the apostles alone on a subsequent occasion when the teaching of fice, which does not so much devolve upon every Christian, was added (cf. Matt. 28:19, 20)]. 16— HE THAT BELIEVETH—This is the one and only condition of salvation (cf. Acts 16:31). This was the injunc tion of our Lord (cf. 1 :15) ; this was the teaching of His apos- tl,es (cf. Acts 13:39). Any added condition is of human imagina tion and origin and is contrary to the Word of God. AND IS BAPTIZED—As a consequence of his belief (cf. Acts 8:36, 37) and primarily as a confession of that belief; though it is also typical of participation in the death of Christ (i. e., a sign that the believer is willing to die, and has died, with Christ to. self and sin; being buried with Him in baptism (cf. Rom. 6:3, 4). [Tlje importance of open confession is too often overlooked (cf. Rom. 10:9; Matt. 10:32, 33)]. HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT —It is noteworthy that nothing is said here about not being baptized. Pressingly important as baptism is, both as a matter of confession, and as a matter of obedience, it is not vitally necessary to salvation, and forms no. essential part of the re
STRUCTURE IN SCRIPTURE D r. H a rriso n ’s a rtic le s on th is su b je c t, w hich a re to co n tin u e th ro u g h o u t th e y e a r, a re p ro v ing in ten se ly in te re stin g a n d p ro fita b le . M any o f o u r re a d e rs w ill w ish to p re se rv e th e c om p le te series fo r fu tu re re fe ren ce . A lim ited n um b e r o f cop ies o f th e D e c em b e r issue o f th e m ag azin e, co n ta in in g th e first in sta llm en t, a re av a ilab le . N ew subscribers, w h o w ish to h a v e all o f D r. H a rriso n ’s articles, w ill b e g iv en th e m ag a z in e fo r th irte e n m o n th s fo r th e p ric e o f tw e lv e issues; th a t is, th e ir su b sc rip tion s w ill b e d a te d Ja n u a ry , 1931 , a n d th e D e c em b e r, 19 3 0 , n um b e r w ill b e se n t free.
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