THE "Word," as expressed in the first chapter of the gospel of John, seems almost beyond human comprehension. And yet we may believe, that inasmuch as Inspiration has employed it for the consideration of mortals, it was designed to be understood, nearly enough, at least, to reveal to us something of the mystery of the Godhead. Reverently, then, would we follow the path which leads up to the throne of the Most High, praying all the way for the search-light of eternal truth to discover to us those things essential to our well-being here and hereafter.
There can be no question regarding the application of the name "Word" found in the scripture under consideration. Making reference to this at another time, the beloved disciple says that this "Word of life" had by him been heard, looked upon with his natural eyes, and even handled with his fleshly hands. 1 John 1:1. And because this Word had been so real to him, he had confidence to declare it to others so that they might also have fellowship in it with him. He then adds significantly: "And truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ." Verse 3.
Putting these two ideas together, they form one grand conclusion very easily reached. Thus, John had precious fellowship with that Word of life, which had become so familiar to him, and he therefore desired others, also, to know that Word, that they with him might enjoy the same satisfaction of fellowship with the Father, and His Son Jesus Christ. In this way he applies the Word of life to both the eternal Father and His Son Jesus Christ.
This decision is in perfect harmony with that disciple's assertion in his gospel introduction, in which he declares that "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." Both Father and Son are here doubtless presented for consideration. This seems certain from the fact that the Word Itself, as God, is shown to have existed at the beginning, and then One called the Word is brought to notice as having been with God.
Then, too, inasmuch as God is known as the Word, He has been willing that His Only-begotten shall share the highest distinction with Him. So, "unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever." Heb. 1:8. Because of this, the Lord Jesus said of His heavenly standing, "All things that the Father hath, are Mine." John 16:15. Therefore, "as the Father hath life in Himself; so hath He given to the Son to have life in Himself." John 5:26. The Word by which the Father is known, being the "Word of life," the Lord Jesus, having life in Himself is also entitled to carry the name "Word" as His own. So when coming to earth in the flesh, He came in His Father's name, as He had a perfect right to do. John 5:43.
Thus two are presented under one name, because the connection of both was, and is, so close that they can not become disassociated. We are told that, "No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." John 1:18. Always, and at all times, God hath delivered His word thru His Son. Even in the creation itself, the word, by which was spoken into existence the heavens and the earth (Ps. 33:6, 9), was delivered thru the Son of God. Thus we read, "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by His Son, whom He hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also He made the worlds." Heb. 1:1, 2.
With these clear statements in mind, we may readily understand why Jesus could so certainly say, "I and My Father are one." John 10:30. They were one in the purpose of creation, one in planning the rescue of man from the depths of iniquity, one in making the conditions of salvation, and one in rejoicing over repentant sinners. The summing up of all the parts is this: "God so loved the world [lost in sin], that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth7in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16.
Man had sinned and fallen under the death penalty because he became alienated from the "Word of life," which is the life of God, and in which dwells intensive love. Eph. 4:17, 18; 1 John 4:16. In order, therefore, to redeem man from the thraldom of sin, it was necessary for the character of God's love to be revealed to him. This could not be done by precept alone, since man's mind had become so rayless by sin that he could not preceive love in that form. Man's heart needed a revelation as well as his intellect. Affinities and sympathies must enter into that revelation, in order to render man's attention effective. Love feels and acts, so that a revelation of love must be a history of love-action, pure from the fountain source, instead of a love definition. A fleshly manifestation, a living being, acting by the force of infinite love, was therefore the only way by which to reveal divine love to the human need.
But it was not enough to manifest God in the abstract to fallen mankind. A perfect humanity was also necessary to invite fellowship from finite man. The Word of life was therefore made flesh, in order that the Infinite might be seen to dwell in and act thru the finite. The two natures, exercised thru one person, would manifest both God and man, with the divine elevated above the human, tho in connection with it.
Both the human and the divine were recognized in the person of Christ by His disciples,—those nearest to Him,—tho others discovered only the human side. These, when they heard Him say to the sick of the palsy, "Thy sins be forgiven thee," said that the Lord blasphemed, because they thought that He had assumed the prerogative of God who only could forgive sins. Mark 2:5-7. Not so, however, with the disciples. Jesus ate and drank with them, as a man; but, as God, created food for the multitude. Mark 6:40-43. He wept as a man at the tomb of Lazarus; yet, as God, said, "Lazarus, come forth." John 11:35, 43. At home in Nazareth, Jesus lived and loved as a man, but at Calvary He loved and died as God. His agony on the cross testified of His humanity, while the agony of nature at the same time testified of His divinity. Thru all His ministry on earth, divine power, wisdom, and love were mysteriously manifested thru Him who was truly Emmanuel—God with us. Matt. 1:23.
As truly as "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself" at the time of His sojourn in the flesh, so now, thru Christ, God beseeches all to be reconciled to Him, that the operation of His life thru humanity may even now reveal the perfect man. To be reconciled to God is to be so in harmony with His requirements that one promptly responds to every revealed truth. To take this stand, one may be sure that the Spirit of God, which now testifies of the Word made flesh, will guide him into all truth, and show him things to come. John 15:26; 16:13. He will then be able to know God, as revealed by His indwelling Spirit, and also realize that the feeling of his own infirmities is responded to from heaven, because the same Word of life, full of grace and truth, by which the motions of his flesh are controlled, is resident, as well, in the breast of Him who is our High Priest before the Father's throne. Blessed reception of an infinite indwelling! Who would not choose it above all earthly advantages?
JESUS AND DISCIPLES AT EMMAUS.
SEARCH THE SCRIPTURES.
By Max Hill
WHAT readest thou? Canst understand?—
Delve deep if thou wouldst know
The hidden mine;
No pearls are thine
Till thou hast dived below;
No treasure comes to idle hand.
Hast found dark words and hard to know?—
O haste to seek the Light
That shines for all,
For brightly fall
Its beams, to guide aright
The searching ones of earth below.
Hast thou the wisdom for the task?—
Thine own will not avail;
'Twill lead astray;
But seek to-day,
The One who will not fail
To teach His children when they ask.
Wouldst drive thy doubts and fears away?—
Then flee the way of strife;
Obey the call;
Surrender all
To Him who is the life,
For Jesus is the truth, the way.
Wouldst fully know the saving grace?—
The Scriptures search with care,
And thou shalt know
The way to go,
And in a world more fair
Behold thy Saviour face to face.
Max Hill.
A Two-Edged Sword.
By S. H. Carnahan
THE truth of God, the word of God which has been styled sharper than a two-edged sword, cuts both ways and accomplishes a twofold work. It separates the wheat from the chaff, preparing the one for the heavenly garner and the other for eternal destruction.
1. The Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom. 1:16); while those who believe not shall be condemned. Mark 16:16.
2. “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” And “we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” 1 Cor. 1:18-24.
3. The chief Corner-stone, Christ, is a stone of stumbling and rock of offense to the disobedient; but unto those who believe, He is precious, and a rock of defense. 1 Peter 2:6-8; 1 Cor. 10:4
4. The waters of the great Flood destroyed all the wicked of the antediluvian world; and yet, by the same element were the righteous saved. Gen. 7:23; 1 Peter 3:20. Likewise the walls of water were a means of saving the hosts of Israel, but of destroying the army of Pharaoh. Ex. 14:28, 29. The pillar of cloud was darkness to the Egyptians, but a light to the children of Israel. Ex. 14:20. So, at last, when Jesus comes again in the clouds, the wicked shall all be destroyed by the brightness of His coming; but the righteous shall be caught up to Him to live eternally. Compare Matt. 24:30; 2 Thess. 2:8.
5. Observance of the commandments of God brings blessings and prosperity spiritually, physically, and financially; while a non-observance of God’s precepts brings a curse upon us in all these respects. Deut. 28:1, 2, 15; Mal. 3:7-11. Even the angels in heaven look upon us as great if we do and teach God’s law; but as very little if we break any precept in it and teach people to do so. Matt. 5:19.
6. If the word or truth of God be heeded by all, the parents and children shall be united in love and compassion; on the other hand, if the truths are not accepted by all, it will separate members of families, filling the disobedient ones with hatred for the others. Mal. 4:6; Luke 12:51-53.
7. God sent His Son not to condemn the world, but to save it; and those that believe Him unto obedience are not condemned; but those who do not believe are already condemned. The only way they can evade the condemnation is by faith which worketh repentance. John 3:17, 18.
S. H. CARNAHAN.
The Generosity of the Giver
"God measures the generosity of the giver, not the size of the gift. The widow’s mite was praised by the Master, not because it was a mite, but because it was the best possible gift. How many can measure up to it?"
The Holy Spirit’s Guidance
“THERE is no pathway so dark for the Christian who is minded to follow Jesus, but what the Holy Spirit can and will brighten up for him. The Comforter is always present to guide him thru safely.”
THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD TO SAVE.
By T.
"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Cor. 5: 17.
THE foregoing text states the possibility of a person becoming a "new creature." The individual who is loaded with sins, and defiled by wrong-doing may become a new person altogether. His desires and all his habits of life may become completely changed, so that he is not at all what he was before.
Wrong-doing, the committing of sin, sooner or later brings into the life a sting of pain and remorse. The pleasure of sin, in fact, always has a sting in it, and there is always a voice in the soul of every man and woman, urging them to turn away from the paths of sin. Any one knows that this is so. To try to argue against it is to try to argue away the most palpable facts of every day life and experience.
When this sting of remorse comes into the soul, and the agonies of death take hold of us because of the doom that hangs over us, then may we know that there is a way of escape; for a man may become a "new creature;" and this "new creature" is not to be fashioned according to our imperfect standards, but he is to be made new in Christ Jesus, which insures perfection.
Jesus said to His disciples, "Now ye are clean thru the word which I have spoken unto you." John 15: 3. The real means of cleansing, then, is the word of God. Made "clean thru the word" is the plan, and it may be the experience of every one who will accept it. Just how God's words can make a man clean from sin, may be very difficult to understand. But there is the statement that it does it, and there are thousands who have felt this cleansing power and know by experience that it is so.
There is nothing that draws out our admiration more than to see a man that is "as good as his word." And when the individual learns from experience that the God of the Bible "is as good as His word," it brings within his immediate reach the process by which he may be made "a new creature." He is made to know that what he reads in the Book of books may be depended upon, and then he goes to searching the word for the promises that will relieve him of his guilt.
"Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, said the Lord: tho your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; tho they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool." Isa. 1: 16-18. First, there comes the turning away from evil. This can be done in only one way and that is by turning to the Lord. There is just one way that a man can cease from sinning and keep free from sin, and that is by the power of God.
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee." Ps. 119: 11. It is the word of God treasured in the mind and heart that gives one power over sin. This word is far more than good advice. The divine Father watches over this word, and when a man turns to it and receives it into his mind and meditates there upon, he finds to his infinite joy that it is charged with living power from the throne of God. Within the limitations in which men operate they have power to make their word good; but with all the infinite powers of His attributes our Father makes every word He speaks to be fully carried out.
"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times FOR YOU, who by Him do believe in God, that raised Him up from the dead, and gave Him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth thru the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently; BEING BORN AGAIN, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, BY THE WORD OF GOD, which liveth and abideth forever." 1 Peter 1: 18-23.
We are redeemed by the blood of Christ. Christ was manifested, or sent into the world, where men could both see and talk with Him. This manifestation of Christ was all "for you." Then comes the new birth, "being born again," and this birth is accomplished "by the word of God," the word "which liveth and abideth forever."
"By the word of Jehovah were the heavens made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. . . . He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." Ps. 33: 6-9.
God speaks to souls "by the word of His power." That is, the same power that upholds all things by His word, also speaks the words of our salvation. Look at this great world on which we stand; then look at the much larger worlds about us in space; then know that it is God's word that holds these worlds together, and also holds them in their sweeping onward courses in space. God has spoken to these worlds and they are obeying His voice.
Now, when the Being who has power in His words to command the worlds and they obey Him, speaks to your sins and tells them to depart from you, it must be clear to your mind that there is power there to make you a new creature. For Him to speak the words of His Book into your life, means for Him to put a power into your life that cleanses you from sin, and to fill you with strength to walk in the ways of righteousness.
But this must be no theory with us. We must make it a perfect reality if we would attain to its realization. We must learn to hate sin, and then as we turn to our God He will cleanse us by His word and make of us new creatures, fitted to walk in the perfect ways of Christ Jesus. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3: 16.
A MISINTERPRETED MISSION.
By Editor
THE ablest edited Catholic paper in the United States, so far as we know, is the Western Watchman, of St. Louis. Its editor is the Rev. D. S. Phelan, LL.D., a Catholic of Catholics, believing in the Catholicism of Rome and Italy and Spain. Every week he publishes a copyrighted sermon of his. The issue of March 28 contains his Easter sermon for March 31. In this sermon there are some great, vital truths told, of which we quote the following:—
"God made this universe for His own glory. He could have had no other end. He tells us thru the mouths of the prophets that He created the world and He created the sons and daughters of men for His own glory. The world proclaims the glory of God. The heavens declare His glory. The earth is covered with His glory. He is a God of glory. And He says thru Isaiah that He "will not give His glory to another." Why is God a God of glory?—It is because He is a God of infinite goodness; and He is a God of infinite truth; and truth and goodness are the foundations of glory. . . ."
"When our Saviour came on this earth He found the place of God usurped by men, not by God's permission or authority, but in defiance of both. The earth was ruled absolutely by men. The will of men was supreme on this earth. And the highest ambition any man could have was to acquire the favor of the world's great. That abomination should be removed. That great outrage should be undone. God had to be restored to His rightful throne in the universe, and man's scepter was to be broken forever. God was to be lifted to His place of glory, and man was to be set down to the dunghill. . . ."
"That is the mission of the church to-day; to put man down to the lowest and to raise up God to the highest. To put down the authority of man and to lift up the authority of God. To reduce human thrones to their level of obedience, and to lift up the altars of God to their proper place of inviolable sanctity. And the church has been faithful to that mission."
O how the Catholic Church has misinterpreted that mission! How she has sought to dethrone the men of heathenism and put in their place the men of a perverted Christianity, who usurp the place of God as truly as did the most assumptive pagan.
"God is a God of glory because He is a God of infinite goodness." Why then does the Papacy endeavor to surround God with such a vast cordon of intermediaries, ecclesiastical policemen,—priests, prelates, saints,—whose favor we must entreat before we find grace at the Throne of Infinite Goodness? Why do not the teachers of that system say to the poor sinner, "You need not to entreat angels and saints and human intermediaries; go directly to Infinite Goodness in the all prevailing name of Jesus the Christ. Listen to His own invitation:9'Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.' Find in Jesus a Saviour and in the 'God of infinite goodness' a Father." Why is not the Roman Catholic Church teaching this to those whom she instructs? Why hide the God of infinite goodness by the imposition of men, dead or alive, between the seeker and the Sought?
"He is a God of infinite truth." Father Phelan teaches truly. He has declared His holy law to be truth, His Gospel to be truth, His word to be truth. Listen:
"All His precepts are sure,
They are established forever and ever;
They are done in truth and uprightness." Ps. 111:8.
"It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one tittle of the law to fail." Luke 16: 17.
"Sanctify them thru Thy truth; Thy word is truth." John 17: 17.
"Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away." Matt. 24: 35.
"There is one God, and one Mediator between God and man, the Man Christ Jesus." 1 Tim. 2: 5.
In the light of the above utterances of Inspiration, which might be multiplied many fold, why does the Catholic Church teach that the fourth precept of God's law is void, and substitute in its place a commandment which teaches an altogether different duty for a different reason on the sole authority of men?
Why does the Catholic Church teach the mediatorship of the Virgin Mary contrary to the inspired declaration above?
The divine test is, "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8: 20. "Why call ye Me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" Luke 6: 46; Matt. 7: 20, 21.
Weighed, measured, by this test are we not justified in saying that the Roman Catholic Church has misconceived the mission of the church, has shut men away from God's goodness, has perverted God's truth, and is giving glory to men—men dead and men living—whom this false teaching and false conception have put in the place of God? If we are to judge by God's test, could we decide otherwise?
True, that church claims to be the true spouse of Christ, but her evidence rests in her claim, in her assumption, not in her agreement with God's word. Even so have claimed to be the true all the false religions of perverted truth in the past.
The mission of Christ is to lift up man, but so as to glorify God. It places man—all men—on the low level of carnality, just where man is by nature, with no hope in himself. It would have men know their condition in the light of God's law, and then come to Him and be saved wholly by His grace, by His mercy, by His sacrifice, by the power of His truth. That is the message of His "everlasting Gospel:" "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come: and worship Him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." Rev. 14: 6, 7.
God by His providence is calling the nations to that message. In that is no exaltation of pope, or council, or saint, or prelate, or doctor; God is all and in all. Those who heed that message will be in harmony with the word, and will and must "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Rev. 14: 12.
THE EXTENT OF GOD'S PURPOSE IN ELECTION.
RECALL again that our previous studies revealed that God's purpose in creating this earth was that it should be inhabited by a certain definite number of righteous characters; that these characters were written from before the world in the book of life; that the name expressed the character and implied the experience thru which must pass the one upon whom the name is bestowed; that a crown of victory awaits each one who answers to God's call and purpose; and that these altogether will compose the great human family bearing the new name of Christ Jesus.
Before sin entered the earth these characters were chosen, "before the foundation of the world." God then foreordained, predestined, or marked out, the perfect characters, as sons of God, thru Christ Jesus, "according to the good pleasure of His will." Eph. 1:4, 5. And He did it all so wisely and so well that those who develop these characters shall be "to the praise of the glory of His grace," given us in Christ Jesus, and thru Him freely bestowed. Eph. 1:6.
Sin entered. God's creation was marred, and man, the sinner, more than all else. Is God's plan thwarted? Will He still have the requisite number out of this rebellious, sin-laden earth? God's plan is not thwarted. His purpose still holds. The requisite number of the requisite characters will inhabit the earth freed from sin. What God planned in eternity, Jesus Christ purchased, redeemed, in time. In other words, He manifested in time the power and love of God for all eternity. Verses 7 to 12 of Ephesians 1 clearly set this forth. God's grace is freely bestowed in the Beloved. In the Beloved we have our redemption, the forgiveness of sin in all its fulness, according to the "riches of His grace." These riches He makes to abound toward us as we need them; for they are all bestowed in "all wisdom and prudence."
In connection with this giving of Christ is made known "the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed" in Christ Jesus, "unto a dispensation of the fulness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things upon the earth." Thru Christ God's universe will be cleansed. No gulf of separation will exist between earth and heaven. No black land of sin and Satan will blot God's universe. All shall be one in Christ Jesus. And in Him an inheritance in that country is ours, if we will let His grace work in us, who "worketh all things after the counsel of His will." Then the sin-cursed earth, touched by His presence, the sinners of earth perfected by His power, shall eternally be to the praise of His glory.
Verses 13 and 14 teach us that the agency by which such poor, marred material may be made to praise God's workmanship thru all eternity is His Holy Spirit. He gives us thru the Spirit the earnest of the inheritance now, His pledge of the fulfilment of all His purpose in the glad consummation to follow, when Christ shall come.
Then in this wonderful chapter there follows the Spirit-inspired prayer that all this foreordained of God, purposed of God, willed of God, may be wrought out in believers in Him, the members of His body, the church. Does the battle seem hard, fellow soldier?—Read the prayer and the promise, and plead His power. Do you seem to be wholly sinful and worthless?—It is just such that God has promised to make to the praise of the glory of His grace. There is everything to encourage us in His plan.
THE GREAT TOUCHSTONE.
THERE is one part of the Scripture canon over which there has been, until quite recently, no question, namely, the Pentateuch, or books of Moses. The efforts to ascribe to a part or all of it a later date have proved fruitless in the light of archeological revelations and just criticism. Even the skeptical and learned Sadducees, the higher critics of our Lord's own time, accepted the books of Moses.
But in the Pentateuch is found the germ and root of all God's promises and blessings to His people, the everlasting covenant; and the sum of all morality, the expression of God's will,—the Decalogue. In them we listen to God's voice, see God's mighty power, behold His wondrous love.
These books, therefore, become a great touchstone, or list, by which to try all subsequent writings. "To the law," is ever the appeal. Is the doctrine, the teaching, in harmony with God's voice? The writings of Moses abound in prophecies and types of Christ. They were so intimately connected with Christ and His work that to reject the former was to reject the latter. Jesus said: "For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed Me; for he wrote of Me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe My words?" John 5: 46, 47. The writings of Moses, to-day, as then, are a great test of all claims to divine authority.
The will of God is expressed in His holy law (Ps. 40:7, 8), found in the books of Moses (Ex. 20: 1-17). That prophet who led away from the worship of God, who taught contrary to the teaching of that law, who taught disobedience to the Decalogue, even tho his predictions came to pass, was a false prophet, and should not be tolerated (Deut. 13:1-5). He was known to be false. Our Lord brings the same test as regards profession: "Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven." Matt. 7:21. To this law all the prophets and writers of the Bible defer as the one standard. Jesus declared that it could not be changed or fail in one single jot or tittle. Matt. 5:17-20; Luke 16:17. To its observance He points as the way of life (Matt. 19:17), and in His own life that law was worked out in its fulness (John 4:34; 6:38). Tested by God's law, the books of the Scripture canon stand.
The Law and the Testimony
"To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Isa. 8:20.
