Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc03/v05500

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 10KB | 175 lines

05502
 #12-26 Christ and his church form one body, as Head and members.
 Christians become members of this body by baptism. The outward
 rite is of Divine institution; it is a sign of the new birth,
 and is called therefore the washing of regeneration, #Tit 3:5|.
 But it is by the Spirit, only by the renewing of the Holy Ghost,
 that we are made members of Christ's body. And by communion with
 Christ at the Lord's supper, we are strengthened, not by
 drinking the wine, but by drinking into one Spirit. Each member
 has its form, place, and use. The meanest makes a part of the
 body. There must be a distinction of members in the body. So
 Christ's members have different powers and different places. We
 should do the duties of our own place, and not murmur, or
 quarrel with others. All the members of the body are useful and
 necessary to each other. Nor is there a member of the body of
 Christ, but may and ought to be useful to fellow-members. As in
 the natural body of man, the members should be closely united by
 the strongest bonds of love; the good of the whole should be the
 object of all. All Christians are dependent one upon another;
 each is to expect and receive help from the rest. Let us then
 have more of the spirit of union in our religion.

05517
 #27-31 Contempt, hatred, envy, and strife, are very unnatural in
 Christians. It is like the members of the same body being
 without concern for one another, or quarrelling with each other.
 The proud, contentious spirit that prevailed, as to spiritual
 gifts, was thus condemned. The offices and gifts, or favours,
 dispensed by the Holy Spirit, are noticed. Chief ministers;
 persons enabled to interpret Scripture; those who laboured in
 word and doctrine; those who had power to heal diseases; such as
 helped the sick and weak; such as disposed of the money given in
 charity by the church, and managed the affairs of the church;
 and such as could speak divers languages. What holds the last
 and lowest rank in this list, is the power to speak languages;
 how vain, if a man does so merely to amuse or to exalt himself!
 See the distribution of these gifts, not to every one alike,
 ver. #29,30|. This were to make the church all one, as if the
 body were all ear, or all eye. The Spirit distributes to every
 one as he will. We must be content though we are lower and less
 than others. We must not despise others, if we have greater
 gifts. How blessed the Christian church, if all the members did
 their duty! Instead of coveting the highest stations, or the
 most splendid gifts, let us leave the appointment of his
 instruments to God, and those in whom he works by his
 providence. Remember, those will not be approved hereafter who
 seek the chief places, but those who are most faithful to the
 trust placed in them, and most diligent in their Master's work.
05522
 * The necessity and advantage of the grace of love. (1-3) Its
 excellency represented by its properties and effects; (4-7) and
 by its abiding, and its superiority. (8-13)

 #1-3 The excellent way had in view in the close of the former
 chapter, is not what is meant by charity in our common use of
 the word, alms giving, but love in its fullest meaning; true love
 to God and man. Without this, the most glorious gifts are of no
 account to us, of no esteem in the sight of God. A clear head
 and a deep understanding, are of no value without a benevolent
 and charitable heart. There may be an open and lavish hand,
 where there is not a liberal and charitable heart. Doing good to
 others will do none to us, if it be not done from love to God,
 and good-will to men. If we give away all we have, while we
 withhold the heart from God, it will not profit. Nor even the
 most painful sufferings. How are those deluded who look for
 acceptance and reward for their good works, which are as scanty
 and defective as they are corrupt and selfish!

05525
 #4-7 Some of the effects of charity are stated, that we may know
 whether we have this grace; and that if we have not, we may not
 rest till we have it. This love is a clear proof of
 regeneration, and is a touchstone of our professed faith in
 Christ. In this beautiful description of the nature and effects
 of love, it is meant to show the Corinthians that their conduct
 had, in many respects, been a contrast to it. Charity is an
 utter enemy to selfishness; it does not desire or seek its own
 praise, or honour, or profit, or pleasure. Not that charity
 destroys all regard to ourselves, or that the charitable man
 should neglect himself and all his interests. But charity never
 seeks its own to the hurt of others, or to neglect others. It
 ever prefers the welfare of others to its private advantage. How
 good-natured and amiable is Christian charity! How excellent
 would Christianity appear to the world, if those who profess it
 were more under this Divine principle, and paid due regard to
 the command on which its blessed Author laid the chief stress!
 Let us ask whether this Divine love dwells in our hearts. Has
 this principle guided us into becoming behaviour to all men? Are
 we willing to lay aside selfish objects and aims? Here is a call
 to watchfulness, diligence, and prayer.

05529
 #8-13 Charity is much to be preferred to the gifts on which the
 Corinthians prided themselves. From its longer continuance. It
 is a grace, lasting as eternity. The present state is a state of
 childhood, the future that of manhood. Such is the difference
 between earth and heaven. What narrow views, what confused
 notions of things, have children when compared with grown men!
 Thus shall we think of our most valued gifts of this world, when
 we come to heaven. All things are dark and confused now,
 compared with what they will be hereafter. They can only be seen
 as by the reflection in a mirror, or in the description of a
 riddle; but hereafter our knowledge will be free from all
 obscurity and error. It is the light of heaven only, that will
 remove all clouds and darkness that hide the face of God from
 us. To sum up the excellences of charity, it is preferred not
 only to gifts, but to other graces, to faith and hope. Faith
 fixes on the Divine revelation, and assents thereto, relying on
 the Divine Redeemer. Hope fastens on future happiness, and waits
 for that; but in heaven, faith will be swallowed up in actual
 sight, and hope in enjoyment. There is no room to believe and
 hope, when we see and enjoy. But there, love will be made
 perfect. There we shall perfectly love God. And there we shall
 perfectly love one another. Blessed state! how much surpassing
 the best below! God is love, #1Jo 4:8,16|. Where God is to be
 seen as he is, and face to face, there charity is in its
 greatest height; there only will it be perfected.
05535
 * Prophecy preferred to the gift of tongues. (1-5) The
 unprofitableness of speaking in unknown languages. (6-14)
 Exhortations to worship that can be understood. (15-25)
 Disorders from vain display of gifts; (26-33) and from women
 speaking in the church. (34-40)

 #1-5 Prophesying, that is, explaining Scripture, is compared
 with speaking with tongues. This drew attention, more than the
 plain interpretation of Scripture; it gratified pride more, but
 promoted the purposes of Christian charity less; it would not
 equally do good to the souls of men. What cannot be understood,
 never can edify. No advantage can be reaped from the most
 excellent discourses, if delivered in language such as the
 hearers cannot speak or understand. Every ability or possession
 is valuable in proportion to its usefulness. Even fervent,
 spiritual affection must be governed by the exercise of the
 understanding, else men will disgrace the truths they profess to
 promote.

05540
 #6-14 Even an apostle could not edify, unless he spoke so as to
 be understood by his hearers. To speak words that have no
 meaning to those who hear them, is but speaking into the air.
 That cannot answer the end of speaking, which has no meaning; in
 this case, speaker and hearers are barbarians to each other. All
 religious services should be so performed in Christian
 assemblies, that all may join in, and profit by them. Language
 plain and easy to be understood, is the most proper for public
 worship, and other religious exercises. Every true follower of
 Christ will rather desire to do good to others, than to get a
 name for learning or fine speaking.

05549
 #15-25 There can be no assent to prayers that are not
 understood. A truly Christian minister will seek much more to do
 spiritual good to men's souls, than to get the greatest applause
 to himself. This is proving himself the servant of Christ.
 Children are apt to be struck with novelty; but do not act like
 them. Christians should be like children, void of guile and
 malice; yet they should not be unskilful as to the word of
 righteousness, but only as to the arts of mischief. It is a
 proof that a people are forsaken of God, when he gives them up
 to the rule of those who teach them to worship in another
 language. They can never be benefitted by such teaching. Yet
 thus the preachers did who delivered their instructions in an
 unknown tongue. Would it not make Christianity ridiculous to a
 heathen, to hear the ministers pray or preach in a language
 which neither he nor the assembly understood? But if those who
 minister, plainly interpret Scripture, or preach the great
 truths and rules of the gospel, a heathen or unlearned person
 might become a convert to Christianity. His conscience might be
 touched, the secrets of his heart might be revealed to him, and
 so he might be brought to confess his guilt, and to own that God
 was present in the assembly. Scripture truth, plainly and duly
 taught, has a wonderful power to awaken the conscience and touch
 the heart.