The Scriptures And LOVE # 1

 The Scriptures And LOVE # 1

In earlier chapters we have sought to point out some of the ways by which we may ascertain whether or not our reading and searching of the Scriptures are really being blessed to our souls. many are deceived on this matter, mistaking an eagerness to acquire knowledge, for a spiritual love of the Truth (2 Thess. 2:10), and assuming that addition to their store of learning is the same thing as growth in grace.

A great deal depends upon the end or aim we have before us when turning to God's Word. If it is simply to familiarize ourselves with its contents and become better versed in its details - it is likely that the garden of our souls will remain barren. But if with the prayerful desire to be rebuked and corrected by the Word, to be searched y the Spirit, to conform our hearts to its holy requirements - then we may expect a Divine blessing.

In the preceding chapters we have endeavored to single out the vital things by which we may discover what progress we are making in personal godliness. Various criteria have been given, which it becomes both writer and reader honestly to measure themselves by. We hae pressed such tests as:

Am I acquiring a greater hatred of sin, and a practical deliverance from its power and pollution?

Am I obtaining a deeper acquaintance with God and His Christ?

Is my prayer life healthier?

Are my good works more abundant?

Is my obedience fuller and gladder?

Am I more separated from the world in my affections and ways?

Am I learning to make a right and profitable use of God's promises, and so delighting myself in Him that His joy is my daily strength?

Unless I can truthfully say that these are (in some measure) my experience, then it is greatly to be feared that my study of the Scriptures is profiting me little or nothing.

It hardly seems fitting that these chapters should be concluded until one has been devoted to the consideration of Christian love. The extent to which this spiritual grace is, or is not, being cultivated and regulated affords another index to the measure in which my perusal of God's Word is helping me spiritually.

No one can read the Scriptures with any measure of attention without discovering how much they have to say about love, and therefore it behooves each one of us prayerfully and carefully to ascertain whether or not his or her love is really a spiritual one, and whether it is in a healthy state and is being exercised aright.

The subject of Christian love is far too comprehensive to consider all its varied phases within the compass of a single chapter. Properly we should begin with contemplating the exercise of our love toward God and His Christ, but as this has been at least touched upon in preceding chapters we shall now waive it. Much too, might be said about the natural love which we owe to our fellow men, who belong to the same family as we do, but there is less need to write on that theme than on what is now before our mind. Here we propose to confine our attention to spiritual love to the brethren, the brethren of Christ.

1. We profit from the Word, when we perceive the great IMPORTANCE of Christian love. Nowhere is this brought out more emphatically than in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. There the Holy Spirit tells us that though a professing Christian can speak fluently and eloquently upon Divine things - if he has not love, he is like metal, which, though it makes a noise when struck, if lifeless. That though he can prophesy, understand all mysteries and knowledge, and has faith which brings miracles to pass - yet if he is lacking in love, he is spiritually a nonentity. Yes, that though he be so benevolent as to give all his worldly possessions to feed the poor, and yield his body to a martyr's death - yet if he has not love, it profits him nothing. How high a value is here placed upon love, and how essential for me to make sure I possess it!

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)

Christ Despised # 3

 Christ Despised # 3

Why was Christ "despised and rejected by men"? Second, because He demanded repentance. "Repent - and believe the Gospel" (Mark 1:15) was His claimant call - that order is unchanging, for it is impossible to savingly believe the Gospel until the heart is contrite. Repentance is taking sides with God against ourselves - it is the unsparing judgment of ourselves because of our high-handed rebellion. It is a ceasing to love and tolerate sin, and excusing ourselves for the commission of it. It is a mourning before God because of our transgressions of His holy Law. And therefore did Christ teach, "Unless you repent - you shall all likewise perish!" (Luke 13:3), for He would not condone evil. He came to save His people from their sins - and not in them.

Why was Christ "despised and rejected by men"? Third, because He insisted on the denial of self, and this at two principal points, namely, the indulging and the exalting of self. All fleshly lusts  are  to be unsparingly mortified, and self-righteousness is allowed no place under the Gospel scheme. This was made unmistakably plain by our Lord's teaching, "If any man will come after Me - let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." (Matt. 16:24). Yet nothing is more contrary to the desires of the natural man, and Christ's insistence upon these terms of discipleship causes Him to be "despised and rejected by men."

How is Christ "despised and rejected by men? In different ways and in varying degrees - professedly and practically, in words and in works. It is most important that this should be clearly recognized, for satan deceives a great many souls at this point. He deludes them into supposing that because they are not guilty of what pertains to the avowed infidel and blatant atheist, therefore they are innocent of the fearful sin of slighting and defying the Lord Jesus. Ah, my reader, the solemn fact remains, that there are millions of people in Christendom who though not atheists and infidels - yet despise and reject the Christ of Scripture! "They profess to know God, but they deny Him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good works!" (Titus 1:16). That verse clearly enunciates this principle.

Christ's authority is "despised by those who disregard His precepts and commandments. Christ's yoke is "rejected" by those who are determined to be Lord over themselves. Christ's glory is "despised" by those who bear His name yet have no concern whether their walk honors Him or no. Christ's gospel is "rejected" by those who on the one hand affirm that sinners may be saved without repenting of and turning away from their sins, and on the other hand by those who teach that Heaven may be won by our own good works.

There are some who intellectually reject Christ, by repudiating His claims, denying that He is God the Son, assumed a holy amd impeccable humanity, and died a vicarious death to save His people from their sins. There are others who virtually and practically reject Christ. Just as there are those who profess to believe in the existence of God, own His power, and talk about His wondrous handiwork - yet who have not His fear upon them and are not in subjection to Him. So there are many who claim to trust in the finished work of Christ - yet their daily walk is no differnt from that of thousands of respectable worldlings. They profess to be Christian - yet are covetous, unscrupulous, untruthful, proud, self-willed, uncharitable; in a word, utterly unChristlike!

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)