Bible Heaven/Bible Heaven.iso/online/mhcc06/v07450

Text File | 1994-03-02 | 17KB | 296 lines

07451
 #16-21 Here is the condescension, the miracle, the mystery of
 Divine love, that God would redeem the church with his own
 blood. Surely we should love those whom God has loved, and so
 loved. The Holy Spirit, grieved at selfishness, will leave the
 selfish heart without comfort, and full of darkness and terror.
 By what can it be known that a man has a true sense of the love
 of Christ for perishing sinners, or that the love of God has
 been planted in his heart by the Holy Spirit, if the love of the
 world and its good overcomes the feelings of compassion to a
 perishing brother? Every instance of this selfishness must
 weaken the evidences of a man's conversion; when habitual and
 allowed, it must decide against him. If conscience condemn us in
 known sin, or the neglect of known duty, God does so too. Let
 conscience therefore be well-informed, be heard, and diligently
 attended to.

07457
 #22-24 When believers had confidence towards God, through the
 Spirit of adoption, and by faith in the great High Priest, they
 might ask what they would of their reconciled Father. They would
 receive it, if good for them. And as good-will to men was
 proclaimed from heaven, so good-will to men, particularly to the
 brethren, must be in the hearts of those who go to God and
 heaven. He who thus follows Christ, dwells in Him as his ark,
 refuge, and rest, and in the Father through him. This union
 between Christ and the souls of believers, is by the Spirit he
 has given them. A man may believe that God is gracious before he
 knows it; yet when faith has laid hold on the promises, it sets
 reason to work. This Spirit of God works a change; in all true
 Christians it changes from the power of Satan to the power of
 God. Consider, believer, how it changes thy heart. Dost not thou
 long for peace with God? Wouldst thou not forego all the world
 for it? No profit, pleasure, or preferment shall hinder thee
 from following Christ. This salvation is built upon Divine
 testimony, even the Spirit of God.
07460
 * Believers cautioned against giving heed to every one that
 pretends to the Spirit. (1-6) Brotherly love enforced. (7-21)

 #1-6 Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures,
 may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who
 set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who
 contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine
 concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers
 spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not
 to offend carnal men. The world approved them, they made rapid
 progress, and had many followers such as themselves; the world
 will love its own, and its own will love it. The true doctrine
 as to the Saviour's person, as leading men from the world to
 God, is a mark of the spirit of truth in opposition to the
 spirit of error. The more pure and holy any doctrine is, the
 more likely to be of God; nor can we by any other rules try the
 spirits whether they are of God or not. And what wonder is it,
 that people of a worldly spirit should cleave to those who are
 like themselves, and suit their schemes and discourses to their
 corrupt taste?

07466
 #7-13 The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not
 love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of
 God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness.
 The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy,
 had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the
 forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently
 with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery
 and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown himself
 to be love, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness,
 unless through unbelief and impenitence, although strict justice
 would condemn us to hopeless misery, because we break our
 Creator's laws. None of our words or thoughts can do justice to
 the free, astonishing love of a holy God towards sinners, who
 could not profit or harm him, whom he might justly crush in a
 moment, and whose deserving of his vengeance was shown in the
 method by which they were saved, though he could by his almighty
 Word have created other worlds, with more perfect beings, if he
 had seen fit. Search we the whole universe for love in its most
 glorious displays? It is to be found in the person and the cross
 of Christ. Does love exist between God and sinners? Here was the
 origin, not that we loved God, but that he freely loved us. His
 love could not be designed to be fruitless upon us, and when its
 proper end and issue are gained and produced, it may be said to
 be perfected. So faith is perfected by its works. Thus it will
 appear that God dwells in us by his new-creating Spirit. A
 loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good
 duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the
 wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful
 to his brethren. A man that goes about a business with ill will,
 always does it badly. That God dwells in us and we in him, were
 words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before
 us. But how may it be known whether the testimony to this does
 proceed from the Holy Ghost? Those who are truly persuaded that
 they are the sons of God, cannot but call him Abba, Father. From
 love to him, they hate sin, and whatever disagrees with his
 will, and they have a sound and hearty desire to do his will.
 Such testimony is the testimony of the Holy Ghost.

07473
 #14-21 The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this
 world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess
 that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in
 God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the
 foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of
 God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against
 the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of
 universal judgment. Happy those who shall have holy boldness
 before the Judge at that day; knowing he is their Friend and
 Advocate! Happy those who have holy boldness in the prospect of
 that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's
 appearance! True love to God assures believers of God's love to
 them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore
 we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, #2Ti
 2:12|. We must distinguish between the fear of God and being
 afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and
 veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the
 principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who
 unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are
 like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved
 father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It
 is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts,
 fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth
 stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to
 partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of
 the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory.
 The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the
 Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. This must
 be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to
 their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges
 anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his
 profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity
 is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name
 of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then
 we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God,
 whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have
 seen.
07481
 * Brotherly love is the effect of the new birth, which makes
 obedience to all God's commandments pleasant. (1-5) Reference to
 witnesses agreeing to prove that Jesus, the Son of God, is the
 true Messiah. (6-8) The satisfaction the believer has about
 Christ, and eternal life through him. (9-12) The assurance of
 God's hearing and answering prayer. (13-17) The happy condition
 of true believers, and a charge to renounce all idolatry.
 (18-21)

 #1-5 True love for the people of God, may be distinguished from
 natural kindness or party attachments, by its being united with
 the love of God, and obedience to his commands. The same Holy
 Spirit that taught the love, will have taught obedience also;
 and that man cannot truly love the children of God, who, by
 habit, commits sin or neglects known duty. As God's commands are
 holy, just, and good rules of liberty and happiness, so those
 who are born of God and love him, do not count them grievous,
 but lament that they cannot serve him more perfectly.
 Self-denial is required, but true Christians have a principle
 which carries them above all hindrances. Though the conflict
 often is sharp, and the regenerate may be cast down, yet he will
 rise up and renew his combat with resolution. But all, except
 believers in Christ, are enslaved in some respect or other, to
 the customs, opinions, or interests of the world. Faith is the
 cause of victory, the means, the instrument, the spiritual
 armour by which we overcome. In and by faith we cleave to
 Christ, in contempt of, and in opposition to the world. Faith
 sanctifies the heart, and purifies it from those sensual lusts
 by which the world obtains sway and dominion over souls. It has
 the indwelling Spirit of grace, which is greater than he who
 dwells in the world. The real Christian overcomes the world by
 faith; he sees, in and by the life and conduct of the Lord Jesus
 on earth, that this world is to be renounced and overcome. He
 cannot be satisfied with this world, but looks beyond it, and is
 still tending, striving, and pressing toward heaven. We must
 all, after Christ's example, overcome the world, or it will
 overcome us to our ruin.

07486
 #6-8 We are inwardly and outwardly defiled; inwardly, by the
 power and pollution of sin in our nature. For our cleansing
 there is in and by Christ Jesus, the washing of regeneration and
 the renewing of the Holy Ghost. Some think that the two
 sacraments are here meant: baptism with water, as the outward
 sign of regeneration, and purifying from the pollution of sin by
 the Holy Spirit; and the Lord's supper, as the outward sign of
 the shedding Christ's blood, and the receiving him by faith for
 pardon and justification. Both these ways of cleansing were
 represented in the old ceremonial sacrifices and cleansings.
 This water and blood include all that is necessary to our
 salvation. By the water, our souls are washed and purified for
 heaven and the habitation of saints in light. By the blood, we
 are justified, reconciled, and presented righteous to God. By
 the blood, the curse of the law being satisfied, the purifying
 Spirit is obtained for the internal cleansing of our natures.
 The water, as well as the blood, came out of the side of the
 sacrificed Redeemer. He loved the church, and gave himself for
 it, that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of
 water by the word; that he might present it to himself a
 glorious church, #Eph 5:25-27|. This was done in and by the
 Spirit of God, according to the Saviour's declaration. He is the
 Spirit of God, and cannot lie. Three had borne witness to these
 doctrines concerning the person and the salvation of Christ. The
 Father, repeatedly, by a voice from heaven declared that Jesus
 was his beloved Son. The Word declared that He and the Father
 were One, and that whoever had seen him had seen the Father. And
 the Holy Ghost, who descended from heaven and rested on Christ
 at his baptism; who had borne witness to Him by all the
 prophets; and gave testimony to his resurrection and mediatorial
 office, by the gift of miraculous powers to the apostles. But
 whether this passage be cited or not, the doctrine of the
 Trinity in Unity stands equally firm and certain. To the
 doctrine taught by the apostles, respecting the person and
 salvation of Christ, there were three testimonies. 1. The Holy
 Spirit. We come into the world with a corrupt, carnal
 disposition, which is enmity to God. This being done away by the
 regeneration and new-creating of souls by the Holy Spirit, is a
 testimony to the Saviour. 2. The water: this sets forth the
 Saviour's purity and purifying power. The actual and active
 purity and holiness of his disciples are represented by baptism.
 3. The blood which he shed: and this was our ransom, this
 testifies for Jesus Christ; it sealed up and finished the
 sacrifices of the Old Testament. The benefits procured by his
 blood, prove that he is the Saviour of the world. No wonder if
 he that rejects this evidence is judged a blasphemer of the
 Spirit of God. These three witnesses are for one and the same
 purpose; they agree in one and the same thing.

07489
 #9-12 Nothing can be more absurd than the conduct of those who
 doubt as to the truth of Christianity, while in the common
 affairs of life they do not hesitate to proceed on human
 testimony, and would deem any one out of his senses who declined
 to do so. The real Christian has seen his guilt and misery, and
 his need of such a Saviour. He has seen the suitableness of such
 a Saviour to all his spiritual wants and circumstances. He has
 found and felt the power of the word and doctrine of Christ,
 humbling, healing, quickening, and comforting his soul. He has a
 new disposition, and new delights, and is not the man that he
 formerly was. Yet he finds still a conflict with himself, with
 sin, with the flesh, the world, and wicked powers. But he finds
 such strength from faith in Christ, that he can overcome the
 world, and travel on towards a better. Such assurance has the
 gospel believer: he has a witness in himself, which puts the
 matter out of doubt with him, except in hours of darkness or
 conflict; but he cannot be argued out of his belief in the
 leading truths of the gospel. Here is what makes the
 unbeliever's sin so awful; the sin of unbelief. He gives God the
 lie; because he believes not the record that God gave of his
 Son. It is in vain for a man to plead that he believes the
 testimony of God in other things, while he rejects it in this.
 He that refuses to trust and honour Christ as the Son of God,
 who disdains to submit to his teaching as Prophet, to rely on
 his atonement and intercession as High Priest, or to obey him as
 King, is dead in sin, under condemnation; nor will any outward
 morality, learning, forms, notions, or confidences avail him.

07493
 #13-17 Upon all this evidence, it is but right that we believe
 on the name of the Son of God. Believers have eternal life in
 the covenant of the gospel. Then let us thankfully receive the
 record of Scripture. Always abounding in the work of the Lord,
 knowing that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. The Lord
 Christ invites us to come to him in all circumstances, with our
 supplications and requests, notwithstanding the sin that besets
 us. Our prayers must always be offered in submission to the will
 of God. In some things they are speedily answered; in others
 they are granted in the best manner, though not as requested. We
 ought to pray for others, as well as for ourselves. There are
 sins that war against spiritual life in the soul, and the life
 above. We cannot pray that the sins of the impenitent and
 unbelieving should, while they are such, be forgiven them; or
 that mercy, which supposes the forgiveness of sins, should be
 granted to them, while they wilfully continue such. But we may
 pray for their repentance, for their being enriched with faith
 in Christ, and thereupon for all other saving mercies. We should
 pray for others, as well as for ourselves, beseeching the Lord
 to pardon and recover the fallen, as well as to relieve the
 tempted and afflicted. And let us be truly thankful that no sin,
 of which any one truly repents, is unto death.

07498
 #18-21 All mankind are divided into two parties or dominions;
 that which belongs to God, and that which belongs to the wicked
 one. True believers belong to God: they are of God, and from
 him, and to him, and for him; while the rest, by far the greater
 number, are in the power of the wicked one; they do his works,
 and support his cause. This general declaration includes all
 unbelievers, whatever their profession, station, or situation,
 or by whatever name they may be called. The Son leads believers
 to the Father, and they are in the love and favour of both; in
 union with both, by the indwelling and working of the Holy
 Spirit. Happy are those to whom it is given to know that the Son
 of God is come, and to have a heart to trust in and rely on him
 that is true! May this be our privilege; we shall thus be kept
 from all idols and false doctrines, and from the idolatrous love
 of worldly objects, and be kept by the power of God, through
 faith, unto eternal salvation. To this living and true God, be
 glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.