Sunday, June 26, 2011
God's Love is Not Void of Hate
Recently I've come to know, painfully, how very precious and needful is Christian community. We desperately need each other. Perhaps some more than others, nevertheless, our strength increases in uniting with others. On this thought as well, I have come to know that our strength is in separation from the world, for our unity with Christ involves both our detachment from the world and our attachment to Him. It involves the repudiation of the things of the world and a cleaving, embracing to the things of Christ. The love of God is not void of hate. "Christ hated sin," (Faith and Works 115), and those who receive him will also hate sin and iniquity. In this case "hate" is not a word strong enough to convey the correct thought. There will be enmity for sin. God placed enmity between the serpent (temptation and sin) and the woman (the Church) after the Fall and He wants to restore this enmity in the heart of every man, a hate for sin and wickedness. Mistaken love permits selfishness and sin in another but God will not and cannot permit sin and selfishness to be retained in the heart of His child. He will write in the heart of man His law of love which will lead man to exalt righteousness and goodness and in so doing he will cut against and oppose wickedness and unrighteousness.
Love and Grace
"Only by love is love awakened," (DA 22). "God is love," (1 John 4:8, 16), and "love is of God," (1 John 4:7). Therefore we do well to understand that great text to read, "Love so loved the world that He gave His Love," (John 3:16). The love of of God is tantamount to the experience of His grace. His grace is both Pardon and Power to usward. "Love is strong as death," (Song of Solomon 8:6), and "the sting of death is sin," (1 Cor. 15:56), therefore, within the love of God is the grace of God and "the power of God unto salvation," (Rom. 1:16).
Now humanity's part is simply to Respond to the Love of God demonstrated in the life and sacrifice of Christ. Each one will be pricked in his heart at one time or perhaps many, many times by the love of God. How he responds determines his destiny. Love may be awakened, that is, Christ, who is love, will be received into the heart, or love may be spurned, that is, rejected as was Christ in the flesh by His own people. If Christ is received He will pardon man from past sins (violations of the law of love, 1 John 3:4) and empower him to live without sinning--to keep him from falling, and to live the law of love which is built upon supreme love to God and impartial love to man. This two-fold element of God's grace (Pardon and Power) is expressed in the words, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," (Heb. 4:16). Mercy is pardon for sins that are past, grace is power for temptations to come (future). Grace is the only "way to escape," (1 Cor. 10:13) both sin and temptation.
Now humanity's part is simply to Respond to the Love of God demonstrated in the life and sacrifice of Christ. Each one will be pricked in his heart at one time or perhaps many, many times by the love of God. How he responds determines his destiny. Love may be awakened, that is, Christ, who is love, will be received into the heart, or love may be spurned, that is, rejected as was Christ in the flesh by His own people. If Christ is received He will pardon man from past sins (violations of the law of love, 1 John 3:4) and empower him to live without sinning--to keep him from falling, and to live the law of love which is built upon supreme love to God and impartial love to man. This two-fold element of God's grace (Pardon and Power) is expressed in the words, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need," (Heb. 4:16). Mercy is pardon for sins that are past, grace is power for temptations to come (future). Grace is the only "way to escape," (1 Cor. 10:13) both sin and temptation.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
God Defines Love
God defines love. His love is "everlasting love," (Jer. 31:3), which is, therefore, unconditional love. Jesus is the "friend that sticketh closer than a brother," (Pr. 18:24), "altogether lovely," (SS 5:16), our true friend that "loveth at all times," (Pr. 17:17), even "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," (Rom. 5:8), demonstrating that, "greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends," (John 15:13). "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son," (John 3:16), and "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself," (2 Cor. 5:19).
Monday, June 13, 2011
God's Loving Purpose in Trials
“The thorn and the thistle—the difficulties and trials that make his (man’s) life one of toil and care—were appointed for his good as a part of the training needful in God’s plan for his uplifting from the ruin and degradation that sin has wrought. The world, though fallen, is not all sorrow and misery. In nature itself are messages of hope and comfort. There are flowers upon the thistles, and the thorns are covered with roses,” (Steps to Christ 9).
Contextually, the thorn and thistle represent “the difficulties and trials that make his (man’s) life one of toil and care,” (9). But there’s a certain, loving purpose behind the trials of life—the thistles we encounter—they’re intended to accomplish something in us, a change-a needful one. Elsewhere it has been said, “The trials of life are God's workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character. Their hewing, squaring, and chiseling, their burnishing and polishing, is a painful process; it is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel. But the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place in the heavenly temple,” (Mount of Blessing 20). The tender, loving purpose of God is thus clarified and so we perceive by faith, and by faith alone, the blessings in trials, the blessing of trials—the flowers upon the thistles. We understand that though there are thorns they are covered with roses! Look for the roses among the thorns –the blessings behind or in the trials. No trial is without a blessing. They are there, always. Look for the loving purpose of the “Rose of Sharon” in your present trying circumstances. In the second chapter of the Song of Solomon we learn of our Father—the divine Botanist, and His purpose to transform fallen man, a prickly thorn, into a stunning lily—a fair flower resembling Him, “the Lily of the valleys.”
“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters,” (Song of Solomon 2:1, 2).
Contextually, the thorn and thistle represent “the difficulties and trials that make his (man’s) life one of toil and care,” (9). But there’s a certain, loving purpose behind the trials of life—the thistles we encounter—they’re intended to accomplish something in us, a change-a needful one. Elsewhere it has been said, “The trials of life are God's workmen, to remove the impurities and roughness from our character. Their hewing, squaring, and chiseling, their burnishing and polishing, is a painful process; it is hard to be pressed down to the grinding wheel. But the stone is brought forth prepared to fill its place in the heavenly temple,” (Mount of Blessing 20). The tender, loving purpose of God is thus clarified and so we perceive by faith, and by faith alone, the blessings in trials, the blessing of trials—the flowers upon the thistles. We understand that though there are thorns they are covered with roses! Look for the roses among the thorns –the blessings behind or in the trials. No trial is without a blessing. They are there, always. Look for the loving purpose of the “Rose of Sharon” in your present trying circumstances. In the second chapter of the Song of Solomon we learn of our Father—the divine Botanist, and His purpose to transform fallen man, a prickly thorn, into a stunning lily—a fair flower resembling Him, “the Lily of the valleys.”
“I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters,” (Song of Solomon 2:1, 2).
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Law of Love
It is transgression of God’s law—the law of love—that has brought woe and death, (SC 9).
“The law of God is as sacred as God Himself. It is a revelation of His will, a transcript of His character, the expression of divine love and wisdom,” (Patriarch’s and Prophets 52). As God Himself is love, and the law of God is a transcript of His character, so His law is love and the only acceptable obedience to His law is love itself. Love is foreign to us, it is “of God,” (1 John 4:7). It is a gift, a fruit, a manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, “but the fruit of the Spirit is love,” (Galatians 5:22). Herein lies humanities problem after the Fall. Our nature changed. We could no longer render obedience to God’s law of love, His will of beneficence. We lost the image of God in our innermost being. We are no longer “subject to the law,” (Romans 8:7). Love, the divine constraint and spring of every action, was lost, and “selfishness took the place of love,” (SC 17). The whole Plan of Redemption, in simplicity, is the restoration of love in the heart of man that once again he may be in perfect accord with heaven and its spirit and render obedience to God’s law of love. In the Bible this vital, life-transforming transaction is spoken of as a “new heart.” “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh,” (Ezekiel 36:26). But His word doesn’t stop there. The following text brings to light the essence, the fundamentals of Christianity—And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them, (v. 27)—God’s will of love and man’s recognition of it and his total heart surrender to it that the Father may accomplish in Him the necessary change. Restoration, Reconciliation, and eternal Reunion compose the glorious purpose and wonder of the gospel. As God condescended to dirty His hands in the formation of man from the dust of the earth so He, Emmanuel, “God with us,” (Matthew 1:23), condescended and “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” (Philippians 2:6, 7). But the wonder of the gospel is that not only is pardon freely proffered through the sacrifice of Christ but power is extended to every believer. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth,”(Romans 1 :16). This power is Christ Himself—Love. It is freely given and when eagerly received effects the desperately needed transformation in the heart of man. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even unto them that believe on His name,” (John 1:12). He will not rest until we are a “chip of the old block.” The gradual and ever-increasing reception of the love of God, of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, is sanctification itself. The great antagonist of love is selfishness and pride which man is all too familiar with. “Pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give,” (SC 30). “To all, there is but one answer, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” (John 1:29),” (SC 19). Christ alone can accomplish the change in us whereby we are to be brought back into harmony with the Father. “Without Me,” He said, “ye can do nothing,” (John 15:5).
My song is love unknown, My Savior’s love to me, Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be. O who am I that for my sake My Lord should take frail flesh and die? (Samuel Crossman, Hymn 188—My Song is Love Unknown)
Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down; Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart. (Charles Wesley, Hymn 191—Love Divine)
“The law of God is as sacred as God Himself. It is a revelation of His will, a transcript of His character, the expression of divine love and wisdom,” (Patriarch’s and Prophets 52). As God Himself is love, and the law of God is a transcript of His character, so His law is love and the only acceptable obedience to His law is love itself. Love is foreign to us, it is “of God,” (1 John 4:7). It is a gift, a fruit, a manifestation of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives, “but the fruit of the Spirit is love,” (Galatians 5:22). Herein lies humanities problem after the Fall. Our nature changed. We could no longer render obedience to God’s law of love, His will of beneficence. We lost the image of God in our innermost being. We are no longer “subject to the law,” (Romans 8:7). Love, the divine constraint and spring of every action, was lost, and “selfishness took the place of love,” (SC 17). The whole Plan of Redemption, in simplicity, is the restoration of love in the heart of man that once again he may be in perfect accord with heaven and its spirit and render obedience to God’s law of love. In the Bible this vital, life-transforming transaction is spoken of as a “new heart.” “A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh,” (Ezekiel 36:26). But His word doesn’t stop there. The following text brings to light the essence, the fundamentals of Christianity—And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them, (v. 27)—God’s will of love and man’s recognition of it and his total heart surrender to it that the Father may accomplish in Him the necessary change. Restoration, Reconciliation, and eternal Reunion compose the glorious purpose and wonder of the gospel. As God condescended to dirty His hands in the formation of man from the dust of the earth so He, Emmanuel, “God with us,” (Matthew 1:23), condescended and “made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men, and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross,” (Philippians 2:6, 7). But the wonder of the gospel is that not only is pardon freely proffered through the sacrifice of Christ but power is extended to every believer. “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth,”(Romans 1 :16). This power is Christ Himself—Love. It is freely given and when eagerly received effects the desperately needed transformation in the heart of man. “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even unto them that believe on His name,” (John 1:12). He will not rest until we are a “chip of the old block.” The gradual and ever-increasing reception of the love of God, of Christ, and of the Holy Spirit, is sanctification itself. The great antagonist of love is selfishness and pride which man is all too familiar with. “Pride feels no need, and so it closes the heart against Christ and the infinite blessings He came to give,” (SC 30). “To all, there is but one answer, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world,” (John 1:29),” (SC 19). Christ alone can accomplish the change in us whereby we are to be brought back into harmony with the Father. “Without Me,” He said, “ye can do nothing,” (John 15:5).
My song is love unknown, My Savior’s love to me, Love to the loveless shown, That they might lovely be. O who am I that for my sake My Lord should take frail flesh and die? (Samuel Crossman, Hymn 188—My Song is Love Unknown)
Love divine, all loves excelling, Joy of heaven, to earth come down; Fix in us Thy humble dwelling, All Thy faithful mercies crown! Jesus, Thou art all compassion, Pure unbounded love Thou art; Visit us with Thy salvation, Enter every trembling heart. (Charles Wesley, Hymn 191—Love Divine)
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The Purpose of the Plan of Redemption
“God made man perfectly holy and happy; and the fair earth, as it came from the Creator’s hand, bore no blight of decay or shadow of the curse,” (SC 9).
Adam, “the son of God,” (Luke 3:38), created “in the image of God,” (Gen. 1:27) bore perfectly the likeness (character—glory) of His Father. There are three paramount references in Scripture for the character of God. These are Exodus 34:6, 7; 1 Corinthians 13; and Galatians 5:22, 23. (In all—side thought—God is not described but rather He defines these qualities Himself. The purest definition for love (“greater love”—John 15:13) was not only expressed by Jesus but exemplified perfectly in His life and “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13). He Himself defines love). Though man was originally created in the image of God after the Fall He no longer represented the likeness—character (image) of God. These few short words, “Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth,” (Gen. 5:3) record the most devastating loss of humanity and disappointment of the Father after the Fall.
Notice that holiness is linked with happiness. The two are inseparable. And how could it be otherwise? “Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of the heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven,” (DA 556). “But the fruit of the (Holy) Spirit is… joy!” (Gal. 5:22—emphases mine!). The purpose of the plan of redemption is to restore man to his original state that he may fulfill his original purpose—to reveal the image and likeness of the Father even as Jesus is “the brightness of His glory, the express image of His person,” (Hebrews 1:3)—that we, as Jesus, may say, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” (John 14:9).
Notice that nothing comes from the Father’s hand marred, imperfect, or defunct but, holy, happy, and fair. Our Father, “the perfection of beauty,” (Ps. 50:2), is a “lover of the beautiful, and above all that is outwardly attractive He loves beauty of character,” (SC 85). Jesus “was perfect as a workman, as He was perfect in character,” (DA 72) and “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,” (Hebrews 7:25). This saving to the uttermost refers to the sanctification experience we may have day by day moment by moment—by the surrender of ourselves to His hand that He may restore in us His image, accomplish in us His purpose, and reveal in us His likeness). Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee, (SS 4:7). He who is “altogether lovely,” (SS 5:16) will make us “all fair.” “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27). Christ is the husband of the Church, His faithful people, and longs to receive His bride as His own. “Thou hast ravished Mine heart, My sister, My spouse… How fair is thy love, My sister, My spouse! (Song of Solomon 4:9, 10). “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints, (Revelation 19:7, 8). This fine linen representing the righeousness of Christ is not merely an outward adorning but a miraculous transformation of the heart by His grace—the restoration of the beautiful character of God in man. “The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold,” (Psalm 45:13).
Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own,” (Christ’s Object Lessons 69).
But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand,” (Isaiah 64:8).
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still. (Adelaide A. Pollard, Hymn 567)
Adam, “the son of God,” (Luke 3:38), created “in the image of God,” (Gen. 1:27) bore perfectly the likeness (character—glory) of His Father. There are three paramount references in Scripture for the character of God. These are Exodus 34:6, 7; 1 Corinthians 13; and Galatians 5:22, 23. (In all—side thought—God is not described but rather He defines these qualities Himself. The purest definition for love (“greater love”—John 15:13) was not only expressed by Jesus but exemplified perfectly in His life and “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends,” (John 15:13). He Himself defines love). Though man was originally created in the image of God after the Fall He no longer represented the likeness—character (image) of God. These few short words, “Adam lived an hundred and thirty years, and begat a son in his own likeness, and after his image; and called his name Seth,” (Gen. 5:3) record the most devastating loss of humanity and disappointment of the Father after the Fall.
Notice that holiness is linked with happiness. The two are inseparable. And how could it be otherwise? “Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of the heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of heaven,” (DA 556). “But the fruit of the (Holy) Spirit is… joy!” (Gal. 5:22—emphases mine!). The purpose of the plan of redemption is to restore man to his original state that he may fulfill his original purpose—to reveal the image and likeness of the Father even as Jesus is “the brightness of His glory, the express image of His person,” (Hebrews 1:3)—that we, as Jesus, may say, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father,” (John 14:9).
Notice that nothing comes from the Father’s hand marred, imperfect, or defunct but, holy, happy, and fair. Our Father, “the perfection of beauty,” (Ps. 50:2), is a “lover of the beautiful, and above all that is outwardly attractive He loves beauty of character,” (SC 85). Jesus “was perfect as a workman, as He was perfect in character,” (DA 72) and “is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him,” (Hebrews 7:25). This saving to the uttermost refers to the sanctification experience we may have day by day moment by moment—by the surrender of ourselves to His hand that He may restore in us His image, accomplish in us His purpose, and reveal in us His likeness). Thou art all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee, (SS 4:7). He who is “altogether lovely,” (SS 5:16) will make us “all fair.” “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. (Ephesians 5:25-27). Christ is the husband of the Church, His faithful people, and longs to receive His bride as His own. “Thou hast ravished Mine heart, My sister, My spouse… How fair is thy love, My sister, My spouse! (Song of Solomon 4:9, 10). “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints, (Revelation 19:7, 8). This fine linen representing the righeousness of Christ is not merely an outward adorning but a miraculous transformation of the heart by His grace—the restoration of the beautiful character of God in man. “The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold,” (Psalm 45:13).
Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own,” (Christ’s Object Lessons 69).
But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter; and we all are the work of Thy hand,” (Isaiah 64:8).
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after Thy will, While I am waiting, yielded and still. (Adelaide A. Pollard, Hymn 567)
Friday, February 25, 2011
Our Satisfier
“The eyes of all wait upon Thee; (Creator) And Thou givest them Their meat in due season. (Giver) Thou openest Thine hand, (Provider) And satisfies the desire of every living thing.” (Satisfier) (Psalm 145:15, 16)
Satisfier, that’s an uncommon title for God. Few recognize in Him “the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy,” (SC 9). The language of David’s heart, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God,” “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God,” (Ps. 42:1, 2) is actually the heart-cry of humanity. “All men seek for Thee,” (Mark 1:37) was the declaration of the disciples as they interrupted their Master’s devotions. How true those words were (and are) but how limited was there application to the disciples. Jesus came to satisfy the soul-hunger of humanity—to bring the “kingdom of heaven”—the kingdom of grace—to humanity. He is the embodiment of the fruit of the tree of life—“the bread of life,” (John 6:35). We are, “complete in Him,” (Col. 2:10) and He alone can quench our soul’s thirst in this “dry and thirsty land, where no water is,” (Ps. 63:1). He is the “fountain of living waters” but humanity, like Solomon, hew “them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water” by vainly pursuing in the world that which is found alone in Christ, (Jer. 2:13). And so Christ came and expressed the language of the heart of the Father for His wayward children in the Great Invitation, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls,” (Matt. 11: 28, 29).
Satisfier, that’s an uncommon title for God. Few recognize in Him “the source of life, of wisdom, and of joy,” (SC 9). The language of David’s heart, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God,” “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God,” (Ps. 42:1, 2) is actually the heart-cry of humanity. “All men seek for Thee,” (Mark 1:37) was the declaration of the disciples as they interrupted their Master’s devotions. How true those words were (and are) but how limited was there application to the disciples. Jesus came to satisfy the soul-hunger of humanity—to bring the “kingdom of heaven”—the kingdom of grace—to humanity. He is the embodiment of the fruit of the tree of life—“the bread of life,” (John 6:35). We are, “complete in Him,” (Col. 2:10) and He alone can quench our soul’s thirst in this “dry and thirsty land, where no water is,” (Ps. 63:1). He is the “fountain of living waters” but humanity, like Solomon, hew “them out cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water” by vainly pursuing in the world that which is found alone in Christ, (Jer. 2:13). And so Christ came and expressed the language of the heart of the Father for His wayward children in the Great Invitation, “Come unto Me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls,” (Matt. 11: 28, 29).
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