406
September 1931
B u s i n e s s
T h e
K i n g ’ s
ful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me” (Matt. 26:38). He offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death (5:7). He has experienced our human need and pain, bearing our griefs and carrying our sorrows. When He took part of flesh and blood, He assumed not merely our human form, but our human nature. He was made flesh, though not sinful flesh. In the angelic an nouncement concerning His birth, He was designated as “that holy thing,” “the Son of God.” In His person, He was always perfect; but for His offices as Captain of our salvation and High Priest of our profession, He was made perfect through sufferings, even the suffering of death. The purpose of His coming down into our race is clearly, stated in the words of verses 14 and 15 : “That through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” These verses not only contain a statement of fact con cerning the incarnation of our Lord and the purpose of His incarnation, but they also unveil the method by which the purpose was realized. The method is indicated in the two words, “through death.” By His death, the devil was defeated, his dominion was destroyed, and deliverance from the fear of death was effected for the believer. T h e D evil and D eath Death has a threefold meaning in Scripture—spiritual, judicial, and physical. Spiritual death is the separation between God and the soul, caused by sin. “Your sins have separated between you and your God”1^—this is spirit ual death. Judicial death is the sentence of condemnation pronounced by the righteous Judge of all the earth against sin. The sentence is impending, for it is written concern ing the sinner that “the wrath of God abideth upon him” (John 3 :36). Physical death is the separation of the soul, or spirit, from the body. Into all of this Christ entered when He died for our sins. The devil does not have the power to inflict death; but he has the power to require the enforcement of the law which decrees death as the result of sin. “The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin [to enforce death] is the law.” Satan can and does take advantage of this. Until Christ abolished death and brought life and immor tality to light through the gospel, the fear of death kept even the people of God In bondage. Christ came to earth [Continued on page 410] “T hrough F ire and F lood ”— showing God’s purposes in the varied incidents of life. If you are looking for a strong, wholesome, interesting story, send three subscriptions to T he K ing ’ s B usiness and receive one of the following without cost: “S ilver T rumpet ”- —By J. Wesley Ingles. This gripping story of modern college life re ceived a $2,000 prize. “T he H igh W ay ”—By Caroline Atwater Mason. This charming novel is doing an excellent work in freeing Christians from the paralyzing effect of evolutionary teaching. Send in your order now, before the stock is exhausted. Address T he K ing ’ s B usiness , 536 South Hope Street, Los Angeles, Calif.
A N eglected T ruth We have here a truth of great spiritual and practical value. Later in the epistle, the Spirit of God directs us to •run with patience the race set before us looking unto Jesus—-literally, “looking beyond that which is before our eyes.” We walk by faith, not by sight. The following words were found in the diary of a Christian man: “The more my heart is taken up with the Son of God, the more do I enjoy practical deliverance from the dominion of sin.” Normal Christian experience corroborates this. We must never forget the words of Colossians 2:10: “Ye are complete in him.” It is said that, just before Sir George Williams, the founder of the Young Men’s Christian Association, passed away, a friend whispered in his ear the three words, “ ‘complete in him,’ ” and that a smile lighted up the face of the dying man as he went to be with Him for whom he had labored. “ P erfect T hrough S ufferings ” The word “perfect” occurs nine times in this epistle, and it is one of the key words admitting us into its mes sage and meaning. Oh three occasions, the word is ap plied to our Lord ( 2 :10; 5:9 ; 7 :28). In the last instance, the word “consecrated” is used in the Authorized Version. As the consecration of the priests marked the consumma tion of a preparatory process, so our Lord reached the consummation of His redemptive work through death. He was made “perfect through sufferings,” even “the suffer ing of death.” Everything preceding His death may be regarded as preparatory to it, and everything proceeding from it comes by virtue of it. In other words, the cross of Christ is central and supreme, transcendent and timeless. No wonder that the apostle said: “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” ! The song of eternity will be: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.” He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death. “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same” (2:14). The word “took” indicates sovereign grace on His part. Flesh and blood is heir to many infirmities and limitations. Our Lord voluntarily assumed these, for “in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren.” He knew what it was to be weary, hungry, thirsty, and homeless. He longed for companionship. He said to His disciples: “My soul is exceeding sorrow iTH most Christian people, money is not plentiful these days. Stern necessity demands that they cur tail their funds. Consequently, they cannot do some of the things that they would love to do. Among the items that they feel they can—and therefore must —do without are new books. To such, T he K ing ’ s B usiness has a special offer to make. To any one who succeeds in getting two of his friends to subscribe to the magazine ($1.50 each in U. S.; $1.75 in Canada and foreign countries), a choice of one of the following helpful books by the renowned and beloved F. B. Meyer will be sent absolutely free. The books are cloth bound, and they retail regularly for seventy-five cents each. “S aved and K ept ” —counsels to young believers. “T he P resent T enses of the B lessed L ife ” —helping the believer to realize what God is to him here and now.
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