The Godhood of God # 3
The chief trouble is that so much that passes for faith today is really only maudlin sentimentality. The faith of Christendom in this twentieth century is mere credulity, and the "God" of many of our churches is but a mere figment of the imagination. Modern theology has invented a "God" which the infinite mind can understand, whose ways are pleasing to the natural man, a "God" who is altogether "such a one as" (Psalm 50:21) those who profess to worship him, a "God" concerning whom there is little or no mystery. But how different the God which the Holy Scriptures reveal! Of Him it is said, His ways are "past finding out" (Romans 11:33). To particularize:
1. The "God" of the moderns is altogether lacking in POWER. The popular idea of today is that deity is filled with amiable intentions - but that satan is preventing the making good of them. It is not God's will, so we are told, that there should be any wars, for wars are something which men are unable to reconcile with their ideas of Divine mercy. Hence, the conclusion is, that all wars are of the devil. Plagues and earthquakes, famines and tornadoes, are not sent from God - but are attributed solely to natural causes. To affirm that the Lord God sent the recent influenza epidemic as a judgment scourge, would be to shock the sensibilities of the modern mind. All such things as this, area cause of grief to "God" for "he" desires nothing but the happiness of everybody.
2. The "God" of the moderns is altogether lacking in WISDOM. The popular belief is that God loves everybody, and that it is His will that every child of Adam should be saved. But if this be true, He is strongly lacking in wisdom, for He knows quite well that under existing conditions, the majority will be lost. If He is really desirous that every creature should have an equal chance to be saved - then why allow so many to be born into families (of criminal parents, for example) and be brought up under conditions where they will never hear the Gospel - and there are many thousands such in this country.
If it should be said in reply God has not created these criminal conditions, the point is readily ceded - but nevertheless God is responsible for sending children into them, for the fruit of the womb is solely in His hands. Why not produce sterility among criminals, if it is contrary to His will for children to be born into such conditions, conditions which frequently preclude all reading of the Scriptures and all hearing of the Gospel.
3. The "God" of the moderns is lacking HOLINESS. That crime deserves punishment is still allowed in part - though more and more the belief is gaining ground that the criminal is really an object of pity rather than censure, and that he stands in need of education and reformation, rather than of punishment. But that SIN - sins of thought as well as deed, sins of the heart as well as life, sins of omission as well as commission, the sinful root itself as well as the fruit - should be hated by God, that His holy nature burns against it, is a concept that has gone almost entirely out of fashion! And that the sinner himself is hated by God, is indignantly denied even among those who boast most loudly of their orthodoxy.
4. The "God" of the moderns is altogether lacking in a SOVEREIGN PREROGATIVE. Whatever rights the deity of present day Christendom may be supposed to possess in theory - in fact they must be subordinated to the "rights" of the creature. It is denied, almost universally, that the rights of the Creator over His creatures is that of the Potter over the clay. When it is affirmed that God has the right to make one as a vessel unto honor, and another as a vessel unto dishonor - the cry for injustice is instantly raised! When it is affirmed that salvation is a gift and that this gift is bestowed on whom God pleases - it is said that God is partial and unfair. If God has any gifts to impart, He must distribute them evenly, or else bestow them on those that merit them, whoever they may be.
And this God is allowed less freedom than I, who may disburse my charity as I best please, giving to one beggar a quarter, to another a dime, and to the third nothing at all if I think well.
How different is the God of the Bible from the "God" of the moderns!!!
The God of Scripture is all-mighty. He is one who speaks - and it is done, who commands - and it stands fast. He is the One with whom "all things are possible" and "who works all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11). He is the One "who has measured the waters in the hallow of His hand, and meted out Heaven with the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance" (Isaiah 40:12).
He is the One with whom "the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance," with whom "all nations before Him are as nothing - and they are counted to Him less than nothing, and vanity" (Isaiah 40:15, 17).
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 4)
Saturday, December 28, 2019
Saturday, December 21, 2019
Lessons For Christian Workers # 1
Lessons For Christian Workers # 1
In the account of the manifestation of Christ to His disciples at the Sea of Galilee, there are many instructive suggestions for Christian workers in all times.
To begin with, the picture of the Master standing on the shore, in the grey dawn, watching His disciples as they wearily dragged their nets through the water - is most encouraging to all who are fishing for souls. Thus He ever stands with His eyes upon those who are toiling for Him. The thought should be full of cheer and inspiration. We should always do our best - for the Master's eye is always upon us. It is with a look of loving interest that he watches - not with the eye of criticism and blame.
Then the disciples' night of fruitless toil has for all workers its deep suggestion. No doubt the incident was meant to teach a spiritual lesson: Christ was not with them - so nothing came of their efforts. All night they had been drawing their nets through the waters, and in the morning they were still empty.
It is just thus with the workers always, when they try to save souls in their own strength. Even Christian work amounts to nothing, unless it is directed and inspired by Christ Himself. We should go always from our knees - to our pulpit, to our bible class, to all our missionary efforts. If we do not, it is really not worth while for us to go at all. That certainly was the lesson which Jesus meant to teach His apostles that weary night on the Sea of Galilee. Until we learn it, too, we shall never have success in winning souls and in doing good.
But the moment the Master had spoken and the weary fishermen had done His bidding, their net was full! Toil guided by Christ, is always successful. No effort put forth under His direction can ever fail. No net cast at His bidding is ever drawn up empty. No sermon preached, no lesson taught, no word spoken simply and truly for Christ, in obedience to His command - ever returns void.
If we would do Christ's work, we must be in immediate communion with Him. When He sends forth a worker, He says, "I am with you always." This promise means what it says, and the very first thing we should do if we would be used by Christ in saving souls and in blessing the world, is to realize His continual presence and put ourselves entirely under His guidance. This implies a life of constant communion with Christ. We cannot live far from Him, and be really used by Him. Someone says, "Christ always uses the vessel that He finds near His hand.!
Another important suggestion is this narrative, is that deep and sincere love for Christ is the one essential qualification in workers for souls. Perhaps we have too much overlooked this truth. We have not failed to appreciate the necessity of education and training in those who would do Christ's work. We insist on our pastors being familiar with the arts and sciences, with Hebrew and Greek, with church history - and this is well. Christ educated His apostles, teaching them for three years, until their minds were thoroughly imbued with the truth, and they were thus prepared to expound to men the doctrines of His kingdom and tell sinners the way of salvation.
But His treatment of Peter when He would restore him to the apostleship from which he had fallen, suggests to us that without personal loyalty and devotion to Christ, and deep love for Him, no one is ready to be entrusted by the Master with the care of souls. The highest learning, the most persuasive eloquence, the most faithful preparation, the best natural gifts - avail nothing if to the question, "Do you love Me?" the answer does not come welling up from the heart, "Lord, you know that I love You!" Love for the work is not enough, nor is love for the Church, or love for children, or love for humanity; the heart of all true discipleship is deep, strong, intense, all-absorbing love for Christ! Personal devotion to Jesus is the secret of all acceptable service. It was this passion for Christ that made Paul the marvelous missionary that he was. "The love of Christ constrains me!" was the only reason he gave for his burning zeal which men misnamed madness. We talk about a "passion for souls." But above that, is the essential qualification in a Christian worker: love for Christ Himself must be behind all, and must kindle all true love for souls.
~J. R. Miller~
(continued with # 2)
In the account of the manifestation of Christ to His disciples at the Sea of Galilee, there are many instructive suggestions for Christian workers in all times.
To begin with, the picture of the Master standing on the shore, in the grey dawn, watching His disciples as they wearily dragged their nets through the water - is most encouraging to all who are fishing for souls. Thus He ever stands with His eyes upon those who are toiling for Him. The thought should be full of cheer and inspiration. We should always do our best - for the Master's eye is always upon us. It is with a look of loving interest that he watches - not with the eye of criticism and blame.
Then the disciples' night of fruitless toil has for all workers its deep suggestion. No doubt the incident was meant to teach a spiritual lesson: Christ was not with them - so nothing came of their efforts. All night they had been drawing their nets through the waters, and in the morning they were still empty.
It is just thus with the workers always, when they try to save souls in their own strength. Even Christian work amounts to nothing, unless it is directed and inspired by Christ Himself. We should go always from our knees - to our pulpit, to our bible class, to all our missionary efforts. If we do not, it is really not worth while for us to go at all. That certainly was the lesson which Jesus meant to teach His apostles that weary night on the Sea of Galilee. Until we learn it, too, we shall never have success in winning souls and in doing good.
But the moment the Master had spoken and the weary fishermen had done His bidding, their net was full! Toil guided by Christ, is always successful. No effort put forth under His direction can ever fail. No net cast at His bidding is ever drawn up empty. No sermon preached, no lesson taught, no word spoken simply and truly for Christ, in obedience to His command - ever returns void.
If we would do Christ's work, we must be in immediate communion with Him. When He sends forth a worker, He says, "I am with you always." This promise means what it says, and the very first thing we should do if we would be used by Christ in saving souls and in blessing the world, is to realize His continual presence and put ourselves entirely under His guidance. This implies a life of constant communion with Christ. We cannot live far from Him, and be really used by Him. Someone says, "Christ always uses the vessel that He finds near His hand.!
Another important suggestion is this narrative, is that deep and sincere love for Christ is the one essential qualification in workers for souls. Perhaps we have too much overlooked this truth. We have not failed to appreciate the necessity of education and training in those who would do Christ's work. We insist on our pastors being familiar with the arts and sciences, with Hebrew and Greek, with church history - and this is well. Christ educated His apostles, teaching them for three years, until their minds were thoroughly imbued with the truth, and they were thus prepared to expound to men the doctrines of His kingdom and tell sinners the way of salvation.
But His treatment of Peter when He would restore him to the apostleship from which he had fallen, suggests to us that without personal loyalty and devotion to Christ, and deep love for Him, no one is ready to be entrusted by the Master with the care of souls. The highest learning, the most persuasive eloquence, the most faithful preparation, the best natural gifts - avail nothing if to the question, "Do you love Me?" the answer does not come welling up from the heart, "Lord, you know that I love You!" Love for the work is not enough, nor is love for the Church, or love for children, or love for humanity; the heart of all true discipleship is deep, strong, intense, all-absorbing love for Christ! Personal devotion to Jesus is the secret of all acceptable service. It was this passion for Christ that made Paul the marvelous missionary that he was. "The love of Christ constrains me!" was the only reason he gave for his burning zeal which men misnamed madness. We talk about a "passion for souls." But above that, is the essential qualification in a Christian worker: love for Christ Himself must be behind all, and must kindle all true love for souls.
~J. R. Miller~
(continued with # 2)
The Godhood of God # 2
The Godhood of God # 2
"In the beginning God." This is not only the first word of Holy Scripture bu it must be the firm axiom of all true philosophy - the philosophy of human history, for example. Instead of beginning with man and his world and attempting to reason back to God - we must begin with God and reason forward to man and his world. It is failure to do this which leaves unsolved the "riddle of the universe."
Begin with the world as it is today and try to reason back to God, and what is the result? If you are honest of heart and logical of mind, this - that God has little or nothing at all to do with the world. But begin with God and reason forward to the world as it is today and much light is cast on the problem.
Because God is holy, His anger burns against sin.
Because God is righteous, His judgments fall on those who rebel against Him.
Because God is faithful, the solemn threatenings of His Word are being fulfilled.
Because God is omnipotent, no problem can master Him, no enemy defeat Him, and no purpose of His can be withstood.
It is just because God is who He is and what He is that we now behold what we do - the gathering of clouds of the storm of Divine wrath which will shortly burst upon the earth.
For of Him, and through Him and to Him, are all things" (Romans 11:36).
In the beginning - God.
In the center - God.
At the end - God.
But as soon as this is insisted upon, men will stand up and tell you what they think about God. They will prate about God working consistently with His own character, as though a worm of the earth was capable of determining what was consistent and what was inconsistent with the Divine perfections. People will say with an air of profound wisdom, that God must deal justly with His creatures, which is true, of course, but who is able to define Divine justice, or any other of God's attributes?
The truth is, that man is utterly incompetent for forming a proper estimate of God's character and ways, and it is because of this that God has given us a revelation of His mind, and in that revelation He plainly declares, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8, 9).
In view of such a scripture as this, it is only to be expected that much of the contents of the Bible conflicts with the sentiments of the carnal mind which is "enmity against God." And further: in view of such a Scripture as the above, we need not be surprised that much of human history is so perplexing to our understandings.
The natural world, to begin with the simplest, presents sufficient problems to humble man, were it not that he was blinded by pride. Why should there be diseases - and remedies for them? Why poisons - and their antidotes? Why rats and mice - and cats to kill them? Why not have left un-made the evils - and then no necessity for the instruments to remove them!
Ah, why are we so slow to learn that God's ways are different from ours?
And when we enter the human realm the mystery deepens. What is man placed here for at all? To learn some lesson or lessons - or to undergo some test or experience, which he could not learn or undergo elsewhere? If so, then why is such a large proportion of the race removed in infancy, before such lessons can be learned and such experience be gained? Why indeed!
Such questions as these might be multiplied indefinitely, but sufficient has been said to point out the manifest limitations of human wisdom. And if we are confronted with insolvable problems in the domain of nature and of human existence - what of the Divine realm! Who can fathom the ways of the Almighty? Can you by searching find out God? No indeed. "Clouds and darkness are round about Him" (Psalm 97:2). If God were not a mystery, He would not be God to us.
But why write in this strain? Surely the need of our day is for that which will strengthen faith, not that which paralyses it. True, but what is faith? We mean faith in the abstract. Faith is, essentially, an attitude rather than an act - it is that which lies behind the act. Faith is an attitude of dependency, of recognized weakness. Faith is a coming to the end of ourselves and looking outside of ourselves - away from ourselves. Faith is that which gives God His proper place. And if we give God His proper place, we must take our proper place - and that is in the dust! And what is there that will bring the haughty, self-sufficient creature into the dust so quickly - as a sight of the Godhead of God! Nothing is so humbling to the human heart as a true recognition of the absolute sovereignty of God. So then, instead of seeking to weaken faith, we write to promote and strengthen it.
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 3)
"In the beginning God." This is not only the first word of Holy Scripture bu it must be the firm axiom of all true philosophy - the philosophy of human history, for example. Instead of beginning with man and his world and attempting to reason back to God - we must begin with God and reason forward to man and his world. It is failure to do this which leaves unsolved the "riddle of the universe."
Begin with the world as it is today and try to reason back to God, and what is the result? If you are honest of heart and logical of mind, this - that God has little or nothing at all to do with the world. But begin with God and reason forward to the world as it is today and much light is cast on the problem.
Because God is holy, His anger burns against sin.
Because God is righteous, His judgments fall on those who rebel against Him.
Because God is faithful, the solemn threatenings of His Word are being fulfilled.
Because God is omnipotent, no problem can master Him, no enemy defeat Him, and no purpose of His can be withstood.
It is just because God is who He is and what He is that we now behold what we do - the gathering of clouds of the storm of Divine wrath which will shortly burst upon the earth.
For of Him, and through Him and to Him, are all things" (Romans 11:36).
In the beginning - God.
In the center - God.
At the end - God.
But as soon as this is insisted upon, men will stand up and tell you what they think about God. They will prate about God working consistently with His own character, as though a worm of the earth was capable of determining what was consistent and what was inconsistent with the Divine perfections. People will say with an air of profound wisdom, that God must deal justly with His creatures, which is true, of course, but who is able to define Divine justice, or any other of God's attributes?
The truth is, that man is utterly incompetent for forming a proper estimate of God's character and ways, and it is because of this that God has given us a revelation of His mind, and in that revelation He plainly declares, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8, 9).
In view of such a scripture as this, it is only to be expected that much of the contents of the Bible conflicts with the sentiments of the carnal mind which is "enmity against God." And further: in view of such a Scripture as the above, we need not be surprised that much of human history is so perplexing to our understandings.
The natural world, to begin with the simplest, presents sufficient problems to humble man, were it not that he was blinded by pride. Why should there be diseases - and remedies for them? Why poisons - and their antidotes? Why rats and mice - and cats to kill them? Why not have left un-made the evils - and then no necessity for the instruments to remove them!
Ah, why are we so slow to learn that God's ways are different from ours?
And when we enter the human realm the mystery deepens. What is man placed here for at all? To learn some lesson or lessons - or to undergo some test or experience, which he could not learn or undergo elsewhere? If so, then why is such a large proportion of the race removed in infancy, before such lessons can be learned and such experience be gained? Why indeed!
Such questions as these might be multiplied indefinitely, but sufficient has been said to point out the manifest limitations of human wisdom. And if we are confronted with insolvable problems in the domain of nature and of human existence - what of the Divine realm! Who can fathom the ways of the Almighty? Can you by searching find out God? No indeed. "Clouds and darkness are round about Him" (Psalm 97:2). If God were not a mystery, He would not be God to us.
But why write in this strain? Surely the need of our day is for that which will strengthen faith, not that which paralyses it. True, but what is faith? We mean faith in the abstract. Faith is, essentially, an attitude rather than an act - it is that which lies behind the act. Faith is an attitude of dependency, of recognized weakness. Faith is a coming to the end of ourselves and looking outside of ourselves - away from ourselves. Faith is that which gives God His proper place. And if we give God His proper place, we must take our proper place - and that is in the dust! And what is there that will bring the haughty, self-sufficient creature into the dust so quickly - as a sight of the Godhead of God! Nothing is so humbling to the human heart as a true recognition of the absolute sovereignty of God. So then, instead of seeking to weaken faith, we write to promote and strengthen it.
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 3)
Saturday, December 14, 2019
The Godhood of God # 1
(Wow!! Very interesting and informative!!)
The Godhood of God # 1
INTRODUCTION
The Godhood of God! What is meant by this expression? Ah, sad it is that such a question needs to be asked and answered. And yet it does - for a generation has arisen that is well near universally ignorant of the important truth which this term connotes.
That which is popular today in the colleges, in the pulpits, and in the press - is the dignity, the power, and the attainment of MAN. But this is only the corrupt fruit that has issued from the Evolutionary teachings of fifty years ago. When Christian theologians accepted the Darwinian hypothesis, which excluded God from the realm of Creation, it was only to be expected that more and more God would be banished from the realm of human affairs. This it has proven.
To the twentieth century mind, God is little more than an abstraction, an impersonal "First Cause," or if a Being at all. One far removed from this world and having little or nothing to do with mundane affairs. Man, forsooth, is a "God" unto himself. [true, that's what we are being taught now! Awful!!] Man is a free agent and therefore the regulator of his own life and the determiner of his own destiny. [I'm sorry, Heavenly Father. Please forgive us!!] Such was the devil's lie at the beginning, "You shall be as God" (Genesis 3:5). But from human speculation and satanic insinuation, we turn to Divine revelation.
The Godhood of God! What is meant by the expression? This: the omnipotence of God, and absolute sovereignty of God. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that God is God. We affirm that God is something more than an empty title - that God is something more than a mere figure-head - that God is something more than a far-distant Spectator, looking helplessly on at the suffering which sin has wrought. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is "King of kings and Lord of lords." We affirm that God is something more than a disappointed, dissatisfied, defeated Being, who is filled with benevolent desires, but lacking in power to carry them out. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is "the Most High God." We affirm that God is something more than One who has endowed man with the power of choice, and because He has done this is therefore unable to compel man to do His bidding. We affirm that God is something more than One who has waged a protracted war with the devil and has been worsted. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is the ALMIGHTY.
To speak of the Godhood of God then, is to say that God is on the Throne, on the Throne of His universe as a fact and not as a say so; on a Throne that is high above all. To speak of the Godhood of God is to say that the Helm is in His hand, and that He is steering according to His own good pleasure. To speak of the Godhood of God is to say that He is the Potter, that we are the clay, and that out of the clay He shapes one as a vessel to honor and another as a vessel to dishonor according to His own sovereign rights. To speak of the Divine Monarch doing "according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him what do You?" (Daniel 4:35).
Therefore, to speak of the Godhood of God is to give the mighty Creator His rightful place; it is to recognize His exalted majesty; it is to own His universal scepter.
The Godhood of God stands at the base of Divine revelation: "in the beginning God" - to solemn majesty, eternal un-caused, self-sufficient. This is the foundation doctrine, and upon it all other doctrines must be built, and any other doctrine which is not built upon it will inevitably fail and fall in the day of testing. At the beginning of all true theology lies the postulate that God is God - absolute and irresistible. It must be so. Without this, we face a closed door: with it, we have a key which unlocks every mystery.
This is true Creation - exclude an Almighty God and nothing is left but blind and illogical materialism!
This is true Revelation - the Bible is the solitary miracle in the realm of literature; exclude God from it and you have a miracle and no miracle-worker to produce it.
This is true Salvation. Salvation is "of the Lord," entirely so; exclude God from any aspect or part of salvation, and salvation vanishes!
This is true History, for history is His story; it is the outworking in time of His eternal purpose. Exclude God from history and all is meaningless and purposeless. The absolute Godhood of God is the only guaranty that in the end it shall be fully and finally demonstrated that God is "All in all." (1 Cor. 15:28).
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 2)
The Godhood of God # 1
INTRODUCTION
The Godhood of God! What is meant by this expression? Ah, sad it is that such a question needs to be asked and answered. And yet it does - for a generation has arisen that is well near universally ignorant of the important truth which this term connotes.
That which is popular today in the colleges, in the pulpits, and in the press - is the dignity, the power, and the attainment of MAN. But this is only the corrupt fruit that has issued from the Evolutionary teachings of fifty years ago. When Christian theologians accepted the Darwinian hypothesis, which excluded God from the realm of Creation, it was only to be expected that more and more God would be banished from the realm of human affairs. This it has proven.
To the twentieth century mind, God is little more than an abstraction, an impersonal "First Cause," or if a Being at all. One far removed from this world and having little or nothing to do with mundane affairs. Man, forsooth, is a "God" unto himself. [true, that's what we are being taught now! Awful!!] Man is a free agent and therefore the regulator of his own life and the determiner of his own destiny. [I'm sorry, Heavenly Father. Please forgive us!!] Such was the devil's lie at the beginning, "You shall be as God" (Genesis 3:5). But from human speculation and satanic insinuation, we turn to Divine revelation.
The Godhood of God! What is meant by the expression? This: the omnipotence of God, and absolute sovereignty of God. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that God is God. We affirm that God is something more than an empty title - that God is something more than a mere figure-head - that God is something more than a far-distant Spectator, looking helplessly on at the suffering which sin has wrought. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is "King of kings and Lord of lords." We affirm that God is something more than a disappointed, dissatisfied, defeated Being, who is filled with benevolent desires, but lacking in power to carry them out. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is "the Most High God." We affirm that God is something more than One who has endowed man with the power of choice, and because He has done this is therefore unable to compel man to do His bidding. We affirm that God is something more than One who has waged a protracted war with the devil and has been worsted. When we speak of the Godhood of God we affirm that He is the ALMIGHTY.
To speak of the Godhood of God then, is to say that God is on the Throne, on the Throne of His universe as a fact and not as a say so; on a Throne that is high above all. To speak of the Godhood of God is to say that the Helm is in His hand, and that He is steering according to His own good pleasure. To speak of the Godhood of God is to say that He is the Potter, that we are the clay, and that out of the clay He shapes one as a vessel to honor and another as a vessel to dishonor according to His own sovereign rights. To speak of the Divine Monarch doing "according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand, or say unto Him what do You?" (Daniel 4:35).
Therefore, to speak of the Godhood of God is to give the mighty Creator His rightful place; it is to recognize His exalted majesty; it is to own His universal scepter.
The Godhood of God stands at the base of Divine revelation: "in the beginning God" - to solemn majesty, eternal un-caused, self-sufficient. This is the foundation doctrine, and upon it all other doctrines must be built, and any other doctrine which is not built upon it will inevitably fail and fall in the day of testing. At the beginning of all true theology lies the postulate that God is God - absolute and irresistible. It must be so. Without this, we face a closed door: with it, we have a key which unlocks every mystery.
This is true Creation - exclude an Almighty God and nothing is left but blind and illogical materialism!
This is true Revelation - the Bible is the solitary miracle in the realm of literature; exclude God from it and you have a miracle and no miracle-worker to produce it.
This is true Salvation. Salvation is "of the Lord," entirely so; exclude God from any aspect or part of salvation, and salvation vanishes!
This is true History, for history is His story; it is the outworking in time of His eternal purpose. Exclude God from history and all is meaningless and purposeless. The absolute Godhood of God is the only guaranty that in the end it shall be fully and finally demonstrated that God is "All in all." (1 Cor. 15:28).
~A. W. Pink~
(continued with # 2)
Knowledge Promised # 2
Knowledge Promised # 2
He works wisely and kindly - when He works invisibly. He assigns no reason for His actions. If we complain or repine - He seems to say to us, as to Job, "Should it be according to your mind?" This silences us, for we dare not say that it should. The time to assign His reasons to us - is not now; but now is the time He expects faith of us.
He often acts contrary to sense - and contrary to our carnal expectations. We had, perhaps, laid down a plan for Him to work by - and He goes just opposite to it!
He crosses our wills - to sanctify our minds and hearts!
He opposes our foolish schemes - to execute His own wise and gracious designs!
He promises to make all plain by-and-bye. The revealing day will come. It may soon be here, therefore let us patiently wait, and hopefully anticipate it. We shall then know the nature of what He does; and see that all is gracious, wise, and kind. We shall then know the needs be for all that He does - for all is necessary for our present good, or future welfare.
We shall know the design of what He does - that it was to humble us and prove us, to purify and perfect us; to exalt His own name, illustrate His own character, and glorify His Father's grace. We shall know and feel fully satisfied - for all difficulties will be completely cleared up. We shall know and be filled with admiration at the wisdom, perfection, and prudence of all He did! We shall know and praise Him for working it all, for working as He did - and for concealing the design He had in view while He was thus trying us!
Beloved, though we do not understand now - what Jesus is doing; we shall assuredly know hereafter! And this calls for PATIENCE - we must wait for His revealing, when all will be made clear to us. At present we have need of patience, we are required to have patience; and if we can have patience with anyone, surely we may with Jesus!
Can He do wrong? Impossible, for all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him!
Can He act unkindly? Impossible, for He only fulfills the bruised reed He will not break, and the smoking flax He will not quench!
Can He make a mistake? Impossible, for He only fulfills the thing that is appointed for us, and many such things are with Him!
"We shall know hereafter!" This assurance calls for SUBMISSION; meek, uncomplaining, loving submission. There should be no complaining, no repining, no wishing - for our wishes spring from our ignorance, selfishness, or opposition to God.
This calls for FAITH - strong, steady, quiet faith. He is with us to cause all, and everything to work together for our good.
It calls for SILENCE! Do not attempt an explanation at present - but be willing to leave it, and quietly wait until the Lord comes. His promise respecting the future is, "You shall know hereafter."
Let us then look through all - to Jesus! Let us amidst all - trust in Jesus! Let us notwithstanding all - expect from Jesus! And in the darkest hour, in the dreariest season, endeavor to say, "I will wait for the Lord who hides Himself!" Yes, "it is the glory of God to conceal a thing," and Jesus, your Jesus, is God. O blessed assurance, of a blessed Saviour - that though I do not understand what He is doing, nor why He does it - at present; yet I shall know hereafter! Let me be satisfied, more than satisfied with it - for I shall bless and praise Him forever and ever - for His mysterious, wise, and kind dealings with me!
~James Smith~
(The End)
He works wisely and kindly - when He works invisibly. He assigns no reason for His actions. If we complain or repine - He seems to say to us, as to Job, "Should it be according to your mind?" This silences us, for we dare not say that it should. The time to assign His reasons to us - is not now; but now is the time He expects faith of us.
He often acts contrary to sense - and contrary to our carnal expectations. We had, perhaps, laid down a plan for Him to work by - and He goes just opposite to it!
He crosses our wills - to sanctify our minds and hearts!
He opposes our foolish schemes - to execute His own wise and gracious designs!
He promises to make all plain by-and-bye. The revealing day will come. It may soon be here, therefore let us patiently wait, and hopefully anticipate it. We shall then know the nature of what He does; and see that all is gracious, wise, and kind. We shall then know the needs be for all that He does - for all is necessary for our present good, or future welfare.
We shall know the design of what He does - that it was to humble us and prove us, to purify and perfect us; to exalt His own name, illustrate His own character, and glorify His Father's grace. We shall know and feel fully satisfied - for all difficulties will be completely cleared up. We shall know and be filled with admiration at the wisdom, perfection, and prudence of all He did! We shall know and praise Him for working it all, for working as He did - and for concealing the design He had in view while He was thus trying us!
Beloved, though we do not understand now - what Jesus is doing; we shall assuredly know hereafter! And this calls for PATIENCE - we must wait for His revealing, when all will be made clear to us. At present we have need of patience, we are required to have patience; and if we can have patience with anyone, surely we may with Jesus!
Can He do wrong? Impossible, for all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him!
Can He act unkindly? Impossible, for He only fulfills the bruised reed He will not break, and the smoking flax He will not quench!
Can He make a mistake? Impossible, for He only fulfills the thing that is appointed for us, and many such things are with Him!
"We shall know hereafter!" This assurance calls for SUBMISSION; meek, uncomplaining, loving submission. There should be no complaining, no repining, no wishing - for our wishes spring from our ignorance, selfishness, or opposition to God.
This calls for FAITH - strong, steady, quiet faith. He is with us to cause all, and everything to work together for our good.
It calls for SILENCE! Do not attempt an explanation at present - but be willing to leave it, and quietly wait until the Lord comes. His promise respecting the future is, "You shall know hereafter."
Let us then look through all - to Jesus! Let us amidst all - trust in Jesus! Let us notwithstanding all - expect from Jesus! And in the darkest hour, in the dreariest season, endeavor to say, "I will wait for the Lord who hides Himself!" Yes, "it is the glory of God to conceal a thing," and Jesus, your Jesus, is God. O blessed assurance, of a blessed Saviour - that though I do not understand what He is doing, nor why He does it - at present; yet I shall know hereafter! Let me be satisfied, more than satisfied with it - for I shall bless and praise Him forever and ever - for His mysterious, wise, and kind dealings with me!
~James Smith~
(The End)
Saturday, December 7, 2019
Knowledge Promised # 1 (Oh! I love this sermon!!!)
(Oh! I love this sermon!!!)
Knowledge Promised # 1
"What I am doing you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter" (John 13:7).
The Lord teaches us not only by His words - but by His works. He taught His disciples by what He did - as well as by what He said. He was now teaching them humility and love - and in order to do so, He condescended to wash their feet. Peter was amazed, and said, "Lord, are You going to wash my feet?" He could not think of letting his Lord stoop to such menial employment in reference to himself. But he did not read his Lord's design - he could not see the deep and tender love of his Lord's heart. Jesus said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter." The present shall be explained in the future. Be satisfied to believe that I am acting wisely and kindly, and the whole shall be made plain bye-and-bye." Thus our Lord seems to speak to us at times. he requires faith now, and promises us clear knowledge hereafter. Observe.
First, the works of Jesus may for a time perplex us. He is the great worker in providence. His hand is everywhere working - though it is not everywhere seen. The hand of Jesus is in all that happens to us. Yes, in reference to our trials - we may say of Him with Hezekiah, "He Himself has done this!"
He strips us, just as He does the trees in autumn, when the sap sinks, and the foliage withers and falls.
He stripped Lot - and brought him out of Sodom poor and desolate!
He stripped Job - and left him for a time barren and leafless!
He stripped Naomi - and she who went out full, returned empty!
He has stripped many of His people - and laid them bare!
He disappoints us. Our expectations are raised by men, or by circumstances; we fondly believe that good and great things will result from a connection, or an undertaking. But our hopes and our expectations are blown away like the leaves on a tree, when blasted by a strong wind! "You expected much - but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home - I blew away!" (Haggai 1:9).
He humbles us. Stripped and disappointed, at first we think He deals harshly with us. We complain of instruments, or events. Like the sons of Zeruiah - we looked only at Shimei cursing; not like David - at the Lord bidding Shimei to curse David (2 Sam. 16:10). The produces hard thoughts, rebellious feelings, and a murmuring spirit.
One weight is laid on after another, until the spirit bends and we lay prostrate in the dust. At length the Holy Spirit breathes upon us, our graces revive, our sight is cleared, and we are not only humbled by the force of external circumstances - but we are truly humble in soul, as the effect of His grace.
Providence, that is - Jesus by His providence, often deeply tries us, fills us with perplexity - and we become bewildered, then He whispers, "What I am doing you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter."
Jesus is the great worker in grace, as in providence, and here His work at times is no less trying. Instead of, as we hoped - carrying on His work by comforting, assuring, and sensibly upholding us; He reveals to us more and more the foulness, depravity, and awful wickedness of our own hearts! Turn the eye inward, He says, "See what Israel does in the dark, every man in the room of his idols!" Again and again, He bids us turn, and at every turn we discover some fresh abomination, some unexpected lust, some foul principle at work!
He empties us of all our false hope, vain confidence, fleshly assurance, and supposed excellency! And the heart appears to be a wilderness, void, barren. Every evidence at times is concealed, every grace appears withered - and only lust and corruption remains!
Thus He exercises us - and sharp indeed, at times, the exercise is! We never expected it. Perhaps we were not warned of it. Or if we heard others speak of it - we never thought that it would be so with ourselves. But thus He destroys spiritual pride - causes our graces to root in Himself and His Word - and brings us, not only to be willing to be saved by grace - but to see and feel that we can be saved in no other way - and bless Him from the depth of our souls for a gratuitous salvation!
Tried believer, tempted Christian, Jesus says to you, as He said to Peter, "What I am doing you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter!" Observe,
Secondly, the promise of Jesus should encourage us. "We shall know hereafter." At present - He works in the dark, for the darkness and the light are both alike to Him. He has made no mistake in anything He has done. He has not caused us one needless pang - though we have caused ourselves many.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Knowledge Promised # 1
"What I am doing you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter" (John 13:7).
The Lord teaches us not only by His words - but by His works. He taught His disciples by what He did - as well as by what He said. He was now teaching them humility and love - and in order to do so, He condescended to wash their feet. Peter was amazed, and said, "Lord, are You going to wash my feet?" He could not think of letting his Lord stoop to such menial employment in reference to himself. But he did not read his Lord's design - he could not see the deep and tender love of his Lord's heart. Jesus said to him, "What I am doing you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter." The present shall be explained in the future. Be satisfied to believe that I am acting wisely and kindly, and the whole shall be made plain bye-and-bye." Thus our Lord seems to speak to us at times. he requires faith now, and promises us clear knowledge hereafter. Observe.
First, the works of Jesus may for a time perplex us. He is the great worker in providence. His hand is everywhere working - though it is not everywhere seen. The hand of Jesus is in all that happens to us. Yes, in reference to our trials - we may say of Him with Hezekiah, "He Himself has done this!"
He strips us, just as He does the trees in autumn, when the sap sinks, and the foliage withers and falls.
He stripped Lot - and brought him out of Sodom poor and desolate!
He stripped Job - and left him for a time barren and leafless!
He stripped Naomi - and she who went out full, returned empty!
He has stripped many of His people - and laid them bare!
He disappoints us. Our expectations are raised by men, or by circumstances; we fondly believe that good and great things will result from a connection, or an undertaking. But our hopes and our expectations are blown away like the leaves on a tree, when blasted by a strong wind! "You expected much - but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home - I blew away!" (Haggai 1:9).
He humbles us. Stripped and disappointed, at first we think He deals harshly with us. We complain of instruments, or events. Like the sons of Zeruiah - we looked only at Shimei cursing; not like David - at the Lord bidding Shimei to curse David (2 Sam. 16:10). The produces hard thoughts, rebellious feelings, and a murmuring spirit.
One weight is laid on after another, until the spirit bends and we lay prostrate in the dust. At length the Holy Spirit breathes upon us, our graces revive, our sight is cleared, and we are not only humbled by the force of external circumstances - but we are truly humble in soul, as the effect of His grace.
Providence, that is - Jesus by His providence, often deeply tries us, fills us with perplexity - and we become bewildered, then He whispers, "What I am doing you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter."
Jesus is the great worker in grace, as in providence, and here His work at times is no less trying. Instead of, as we hoped - carrying on His work by comforting, assuring, and sensibly upholding us; He reveals to us more and more the foulness, depravity, and awful wickedness of our own hearts! Turn the eye inward, He says, "See what Israel does in the dark, every man in the room of his idols!" Again and again, He bids us turn, and at every turn we discover some fresh abomination, some unexpected lust, some foul principle at work!
He empties us of all our false hope, vain confidence, fleshly assurance, and supposed excellency! And the heart appears to be a wilderness, void, barren. Every evidence at times is concealed, every grace appears withered - and only lust and corruption remains!
Thus He exercises us - and sharp indeed, at times, the exercise is! We never expected it. Perhaps we were not warned of it. Or if we heard others speak of it - we never thought that it would be so with ourselves. But thus He destroys spiritual pride - causes our graces to root in Himself and His Word - and brings us, not only to be willing to be saved by grace - but to see and feel that we can be saved in no other way - and bless Him from the depth of our souls for a gratuitous salvation!
Tried believer, tempted Christian, Jesus says to you, as He said to Peter, "What I am doing you do not understand now; but you shall know hereafter!" Observe,
Secondly, the promise of Jesus should encourage us. "We shall know hereafter." At present - He works in the dark, for the darkness and the light are both alike to Him. He has made no mistake in anything He has done. He has not caused us one needless pang - though we have caused ourselves many.
~James Smith~
(continued with # 2)
Nevertheless # 4 (and others)
Nevertheless # 4 (and others)
And if ever it displayed unequaled courage, and conveyed the full persuasion of divinity, it was when it was uttered by the Lamb of God, as He stood before the High Priest, who said to Him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus replied unto him: "Yes, it is as you say. Nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven!" (Matt. 26:64). Yes, blessed Jesus, the proud, haughty, scornful priest of Israel, shall have more than your word, to attest your claims, for he shall see you in your glory, and in your Father's glory, and all the holy angels with you!
O Lord Jesus, to submit to my Heavenly Father's will as You did, and to look forward amidst all my sufferings, poverty, and pains, to the fulfillment of the apostolic testimony: "When Christ who is our life shall appear - then you shall also appear with Him in glory!"
Now let the feeble all be strong,
And make Jehovah's arm their song,
His shield is spread o'er every saint;
And, thus supported - who shall faint?
What though the hosts of hell engage
With mingled cruelty and rage!
A faithful God restrains their hands,
And chains them down in iron bands!
Bound by His Word, He will display
A strength proportioned to our day;
And when united trials meet,
Will show a path of safe retreat.
Thus far we prove that promise good,
Which Jesus ratified with blood;
Still He is gracious, wise, and just;
And still, in Him, may we all trust.
~James Smith~
(The End)
_______________________
This Heavenly Light of Truth
"All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The doctrines of Scripture are facts, which involve corresponding emotions and principles of action, and must, from their very nature, if believed, be operative upon the heart and the life.
If the doctrines of Scripture exert no godly influence, carry with them no practical weight, exert no moral power, they are not truly believed.
The doctrines of Scripture are at once the source of consolation, and the means of sanctification.
The doctrines of Scripture come into the mind as knowledge, produce peace and love in the heart, and spread the beauties of holiness over the character and conduct.
The doctrines of Scripture are light; and like the rays of the sun, they sustain life at the root of the vine, and produce fruit on its branches.
This heavenly light of truth gives spiritual vitality to the soul, and holy conduct to the life.
"For our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction" (1 Thess. 1:5).
~John Angell James~
______________________
The Evidence of Genuine Piety
The evidence of genuine piety is to be found in real humility, self-distrust, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, sorrow for sin, and a continual effort to regulate your thoughts, feelings, and conduct by the Word of God.
Genuine piety will not thrive and increase without effort - but is of so tender and delicate a nature as to require great, constant, and persevering concern, watchfulness, and care.
~John Angell James~
And if ever it displayed unequaled courage, and conveyed the full persuasion of divinity, it was when it was uttered by the Lamb of God, as He stood before the High Priest, who said to Him, "I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God!" Jesus replied unto him: "Yes, it is as you say. Nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall you see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of Heaven!" (Matt. 26:64). Yes, blessed Jesus, the proud, haughty, scornful priest of Israel, shall have more than your word, to attest your claims, for he shall see you in your glory, and in your Father's glory, and all the holy angels with you!
O Lord Jesus, to submit to my Heavenly Father's will as You did, and to look forward amidst all my sufferings, poverty, and pains, to the fulfillment of the apostolic testimony: "When Christ who is our life shall appear - then you shall also appear with Him in glory!"
Now let the feeble all be strong,
And make Jehovah's arm their song,
His shield is spread o'er every saint;
And, thus supported - who shall faint?
What though the hosts of hell engage
With mingled cruelty and rage!
A faithful God restrains their hands,
And chains them down in iron bands!
Bound by His Word, He will display
A strength proportioned to our day;
And when united trials meet,
Will show a path of safe retreat.
Thus far we prove that promise good,
Which Jesus ratified with blood;
Still He is gracious, wise, and just;
And still, in Him, may we all trust.
~James Smith~
(The End)
_______________________
This Heavenly Light of Truth
"All Scripture is inspired by God, and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The doctrines of Scripture are facts, which involve corresponding emotions and principles of action, and must, from their very nature, if believed, be operative upon the heart and the life.
If the doctrines of Scripture exert no godly influence, carry with them no practical weight, exert no moral power, they are not truly believed.
The doctrines of Scripture are at once the source of consolation, and the means of sanctification.
The doctrines of Scripture come into the mind as knowledge, produce peace and love in the heart, and spread the beauties of holiness over the character and conduct.
The doctrines of Scripture are light; and like the rays of the sun, they sustain life at the root of the vine, and produce fruit on its branches.
This heavenly light of truth gives spiritual vitality to the soul, and holy conduct to the life.
"For our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction" (1 Thess. 1:5).
~John Angell James~
______________________
The Evidence of Genuine Piety
The evidence of genuine piety is to be found in real humility, self-distrust, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, sorrow for sin, and a continual effort to regulate your thoughts, feelings, and conduct by the Word of God.
Genuine piety will not thrive and increase without effort - but is of so tender and delicate a nature as to require great, constant, and persevering concern, watchfulness, and care.
~John Angell James~
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)