Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v05250

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 13KB | 230 lines

05251
 * The plain manner in which the apostle preached Christ
 crucified. (1-5) The wisdom contained in this doctrine. (6-9) It
 cannot be duly known but by the Holy Spirit. (10-16)

 #1-5 Christ, in his person, and offices, and sufferings, is the
 sum and substance of the gospel, and ought to be the great
 subject of a gospel minister's preaching, but not so as to leave
 out other parts of God's revealed truth and will. Paul preached
 the whole counsel of God. Few know the fear and trembling of
 faithful ministers, from a deep sense of their own weakness They
 know how insufficient they are, and are fearful for themselves.
 When nothing but Christ crucified is plainly preached, the
 success must be entirely from Divine power accompanying the
 word, and thus men are brought to believe, to the salvation of
 their souls.

05256
 #6-9 Those who receive the doctrine of Christ as Divine, and,
 having been enlightened by the Holy Spirit, have looked well
 into it, see not only the plain history of Christ, and him
 crucified, but the deep and admirable designs of Divine wisdom
 therein. It is the mystery made manifest to the saints, #Col
 1:26|, though formerly hid from the heathen world; it was only
 shown in dark types and distant prophecies, but now is revealed
 and made known by the Spirit of God. Jesus Christ is the Lord of
 glory; a title much too great for any creature. There are many
 things which people would not do, if they knew the wisdom of God
 in the great work of redemption. There are things God hath
 prepared for those that love him, and wait for him, which sense
 cannot discover, no teaching can convey to our ears, nor can it
 yet enter our hearts. We must take them as they stand in the
 Scriptures, as God hath been pleased to reveal them to us.

05260
 #10-16 God has revealed true wisdom to us by his Spirit. Here is
 a proof of the Divine authority of the Holy Scriptures, #2Pe
 1:21|. In proof of the Divinity of the Holy Ghost, observe, that
 he knows all things, and he searches all things, even the deep
 things of God. No one can know the things of God, but his Holy
 Spirit, who is one with the Father and the Son, and who makes
 known Divine mysteries to his church. This is most clear
 testimony, both to the real Godhead and the distinct person of
 the Holy Spirit. The apostles were not guided by worldly
 principles. They had the revelation of these things from the
 Spirit of God, and the saving impression of them from the same
 Spirit. These things they declared in plain, simple language,
 taught by the Holy Spirit, totally different from the affected
 oratory or enticing words of man's wisdom. The natural man, the
 wise man of the world, receives not the things of the Spirit of
 God. The pride of carnal reasoning is really as much opposed to
 spirituality, as the basest sensuality. The sanctified mind
 discerns the real beauties of holiness, but the power of
 discerning and judging about common and natural things is not
 lost. But the carnal man is a stranger to the principles, and
 pleasures, and actings of the Divine life. The spiritual man
 only, is the person to whom God gives the knowledge of his will.
 How little have any known of the mind of God by natural power!
 And the apostles were enabled by his Spirit to make known his
 mind. In the Holy Scriptures, the mind of Christ, and the mind
 of God in Christ, are fully made known to us. It is the great
 privilege of Christians, that they have the mind of Christ
 revealed to them by his Spirit. They experience his sanctifying
 power in their hearts, and bring forth good fruits in their
 lives.
05267
 * The Corinthians reproved for their contentions. (1-4) The true
 servants of Christ can do nothing without him. (5-9) He is the
 only foundation, and every one should take heed what he builds
 thereon. (10-15) The churches of Christ ought to be kept pure,
 and to be humble. (16,17) And they should not glory in men,
 because ministers and all things else are theirs through Christ.
 (18-23)

 #1-4 The most simple truths of the gospel, as to man's
 sinfulness and God's mercy, repentance towards God, and faith in
 our Lord Jesus Christ, stated in the plainest language, suit the
 people better than deeper mysteries. Men may have much doctrinal
 knowledge, yet be mere beginners in the life of faith and
 experience. Contentions and quarrels about religion are sad
 evidences of carnality. True religion makes men peaceable, not
 contentious. But it is to be lamented, that many who should walk
 as Christians, live and act too much like other men. Many
 professors, and preachers also, show themselves to be yet
 carnal, by vain-glorious strife, eagerness for dispute, and
 readiness to despise and speak evil of others.

05271
 #5-9 The ministers about whom the Corinthians contended, were
 only instruments used by God. We should not put ministers into
 the place of God. He that planteth and he that watereth are one,
 employed by one Master, trusted with the same revelation, busied
 in one work, and engaged in one design. They have their
 different gifts from one and the same Spirit, for the very same
 purposes; and should carry on the same design heartily. Those
 who work hardest shall fare best. Those who are most faithful
 shall have the greatest reward. They work together with God, in
 promoting the purposes of his glory, and the salvation of
 precious souls; and He who knows their work, will take care they
 do not labour in vain. They are employed in his husbandry and
 building; and He will carefully look over them.

05276
 #10-15 The apostle was a wise master-builder; but the grace of
 God made him such. Spiritual pride is abominable; it is using
 the greatest favours of God, to feed our own vanity, and make
 idols of ourselves. But let every man take heed; there may be
 bad building on a good foundation. Nothing must be laid upon it,
 but what the foundation will bear, and what is of a piece with
 it. Let us not dare to join a merely human or a carnal life with
 a Divine faith, the corruption of sin with the profession of
 Christianity. Christ is a firm, abiding, and immovable Rock of
 ages, every way able to bear all the weight that God himself or
 the sinner can lay upon him; neither is there salvation in any
 other. Leave out the doctrine of his atonement, and there is no
 foundation for our hopes. But of those who rest on this
 foundation, there are two sorts. Some hold nothing but the truth
 as it is in Jesus, and preach nothing else. Others build on the
 good foundation what will not abide the test, when the day of
 trial comes. We may be mistaken in ourselves and others; but
 there is a day coming that will show our actions in the true
 light, without covering or disguise. Those who spread true and
 pure religion in all its branches, and whose work will abide in
 the great day, shall receive a reward. And how great! how much
 exceeding their deserts! There are others, whose corrupt
 opinions and doctrines, or vain inventions and usages in the
 worship of God, shall be made known, disowned, and rejected, in
 that day. This is plainly meant of a figurative fire, not of a
 real one; for what real fire can consume religious rites or
 doctrines? And it is to try every man's works, those of Paul and
 Apollos, as well as others. Let us consider the tendency of our
 undertakings, compare them with God's word, and judge ourselves,
 that we be not judged of the Lord.
05282
 #16,17 From other parts of the epistle, it appears that the
 false teachers among the Corinthians taught unholy doctrines.
 Such teaching tended to corrupt, to pollute, and destroy the
 building, which should be kept pure and holy for God. Those who
 spread loose principles, which render the church of God unholy,
 bring destruction upon themselves. Christ by his Spirit dwells
 in all true believers. Christians are holy by profession, and
 should be pure and clean, both in heart and conversation. He is
 deceived who deems himself the temple of the Holy Ghost, yet is
 unconcerned about personal holiness, or the peace and purity of
 the church.

05284
 #18-23 To have a high opinion of our own wisdom, is but to
 flatter ourselves; and self-flattery is the next step to
 self-deceit. The wisdom that worldly men esteem, is foolishness
 with God. How justly does he despise, and how easily can he
 baffle and confound it! The thoughts of the wisest men in the
 world, have vanity, weakness, and folly in them. All this should
 teach us to be humble, and make us willing to be taught of God,
 so as not to be led away, by pretences to human wisdom and
 skill, from the simple truths revealed by Christ. Mankind are
 very apt to oppose the design of the mercies of God. Observe the
 spiritual riches of a true believer; "All are yours," even
 ministers and ordinances. Nay, the world itself is yours. Saints
 have as much of it as Infinite Wisdom sees fit for them, and
 they have it with the Divine blessing. Life is yours, that you
 may have a season and opportunity to prepare for the life of
 heaven; and death is yours, that you may go to the possession of
 it. It is the kind messenger to take you from sin and sorrow,
 and to guide you to your Father's house. Things present are
 yours, for your support on the road; things to come are yours,
 to delight you for ever at your journey's end. If we belong to
 Christ, and are true to him, all good belongs to us, and is sure
 to us. Believers are the subjects of his kingdom. He is Lord
 over us, we must own his dominion, and cheerfully submit to his
 command. God in Christ, reconciling a sinful world to himself,
 and pouring the riches of his grace on a reconciled world, is
 the sum and substance of the gospel.
05290
 * The true character of gospel ministers. (1-6) Cautions against
 despising the apostle. (7-13) He claims their regard as their
 spiritual father in Christ, and shows his concern for them.
 (14-21)

 #1-6 Apostles were no more than servants of Christ, but they
 were not to be undervalued. They had a great trust, and for that
 reason, had an honourable office. Paul had a just concern for
 his own reputation, but he knew that he who chiefly aimed to
 please men, would not prove himself a faithful servant of
 Christ. It is a comfort that men are not to be our final judges.
 And it is not judging well of ourselves, or justifying
 ourselves, that will prove us safe and happy. Our own judgment
 is not to be depended upon as to our faithfulness, any more than
 our own works for our justification. There is a day coming, that
 will bring men's secret sins into open day, and discover the
 secrets of their hearts. Then every slandered believer will be
 justified, and every faithful servant approved and rewarded. The
 word of God is the best rule by which to judge as to men. Pride
 commonly is at the bottom of quarrels. Self-conceit contributes
 to produce undue esteem of our teachers, as well as of
 ourselves. We shall not be puffed up for one against another, if
 we remember that all are instruments, employed by God, and
 endowed by him with various talents.

05296
 #7-13 We have no reason to be proud; all we have, or are, or do,
 that is good, is owing to the free and rich grace of God. A
 sinner snatched from destruction by sovereign grace alone, must
 be very absurd and inconsistent, if proud of the free gifts of
 God. St. Paul sets forth his own circumstances, ver. 9. Allusion
 is made to the cruel spectacles in the Roman games; where men
 were forced to cut one another to pieces, to divert the people;
 and where the victor did not escape with his life, though he
 should destroy his adversary, but was only kept for another
 combat, and must be killed at last. The thought that many eyes
 are upon believers, when struggling with difficulties or
 temptations, should encourage constancy and patience. "We are
 weak, but ye are strong." All Christians are not alike exposed.
 Some suffer greater hardships than others. The apostle enters
 into particulars of their sufferings. And how glorious the
 charity and devotion that carried them through all these
 hardships! They suffered in their persons and characters as the
 worst and vilest of men; as the very dirt of the world, that was
 to be swept away: nay, as the offscouring of all things, the
 dross of all things. And every one who would be faithful in
 Christ Jesus, must be prepared for poverty and contempt.
 Whatever the disciples of Christ suffer from men, they must
 follow the example, and fulfil the will and precepts of their
 Lord. They must be content, with him and for him, to be despised
 and abused. It is much better to be rejected, despised, and ill
 used, as St. Paul was, than to have the good opinion and favour
 of the world. Though cast off by the world as vile, yet we may
 be precious to God, gathered up with his own hand, and placed
 upon his throne.