The Fruit of Trust in God’s Love, Part 2

Trust Yields Divine Fellowship and Confidence

 

The Fruit of Trust in God’s Love

Part 2 (Conclusion)

By Fred O. Blakely

“And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him. Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love” (I Jn. 4:16-18, ASV).

The Boldness before God. The ultimate outcome of such reliance upon, and fellowship with, God in the era of grace has its setting in the world to come, says the Apostle. “Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, even so are we in this world. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear.” The firstfruits of this reliant boldness before God is experienced by the believer while yet in the flesh. Through faith and trust in the record which God has given of Himself and His Son, he comes “boldly unto the throne of grace,” entering without fear “into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 4:14-16; 10:19-22). At the great judgment seat of Christ, before which “we must all appear” (II Cor. 5:10), he will but continue in “this grace” wherein he now stands, relying wholly upon His acceptance with God “in the Beloved” (Rom. 5:5-11; Eph. 1:6).

The unspeakable glory of this deliverance from fear of “judgment to come” needs to be emphasized, that we may the more appreciate the greatness of our salvation in Christ (Acts 24:25).  “What countless fears agitate the hearts of those who are not in sympathy with God! Some men are dreading poverty; others, painful and lingering illness; others, death; others, judgment; others, God Himself. Such fears agitate and distress souls; they have torment. Perfect love will expel each and all these tormentors. It clothes our life and its experiences in new aspects, by enabling us to regard them in a different spirit. This love is of God; it proceeds from and returns to Him. It cannot dread Him and His appointments in relation to us. In this way it banishes from the heart the dread of death and of the judgment. Since God is what He is—‘Love’ (v. 16) and ‘Light’ (ch. 1:5)—we can do no other than trust Him. Hence, even now we look forward with confidence to the day of judgment. Perfect love not only expels servile fear, but inspires victorious trust in God.” “The confidence which we shall have ‘in that day,’ and which we have even now by anticipation of it, is the perfection of our love grounded on the consideration which follows, ‘Because as He is, even so are we in this world.’”

The final fruitage of our abiding in the divine love, like the “good wine” which the Lord made at the wedding feast (Jn. 2:10), is the best. “It will give us peace and satisfaction of spirit in the day when it will be most needed, or when it will be the greatest pleasure and blessing imaginable. There must be a day of universal judgment. Happy (are) they who shall have holy fiducial boldness before the Judge at that day, who shall be able to lift up their heads and look Him in the face, knowing He is their Friend and Advocate!

Happy (are) they who have holy boldness and assurance in the prospect of that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge’s appearance! So do, and so may do, the lovers of God. Their love to God assures them of God’s love to them (I Jn. 4:19), and consequently of the friendship of the Son of God. As God is good and loving, and faithful to His promises, so we can easily be persuaded of His love, and the happy fruits of His love, when we can say, Thou that knowest all things knowest that we love Thee (Jn. 21:17). ‘And hope maketh not ashamed.’ Our hope, conceived by the consideration of God’s love, will not disappoint us, ‘because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit which is given to us.’”

“The fear which is inconsistent with perfect love is the fear of the slave dreading the lash, or the culprit dreading the verdict. But if the love of God is within us, sweetly subduing us with its tenderness, and if through that love sin is pardoned and destroyed, why, there is not lash to dread, there is not adverse verdict to fear (Jn. 5:24, ASV); for in such a case, to see the Judge upon the throne will be to look upon the face of an infinite Vindicator and Friend, in whose love we have lived here, and the enjoyment of whose love is the highest heaven for ever! And so far as the judgment will bear on others, the man of love will be more than content with the decisions of the Son of God and Son of man, and will desire nothing more than that the entire race should be dealt with by Christ as He sees fit. Evidently, if this be not our state of mind, there must be a deficiency in love in exactly the same degree as there is any restless fear.”

Our expectancy of boldness in the day of judgment is also rooted in our present conformity to Christ, John declares. “Because as He is, even so are we in this world” (v. 17). In what sense is this to be taken? Primarily, of course, we are judicially reckoned by God to be so, in that we are joined to Christ—one Spirit with Him, “members of His body, of His flesh, and of His bones” (I Cor. 6:17; Eph. 5:30). In addition, we are experientially identified with our Lord.  We have God as our Father, as does He, “for which cause He is not ashamed” to recognize us as brethren (Heb. 2:11-13). We are also “separate from sinners” and the world, and “alive unto God, as He is (Rom. 6:11; Heb. 7:26). We have been raised up, as was Christ, and been made to “sit with Him in the heavenly places” (Eph. 2:6).

Hence, as He was “received up into glory” (I Tim. 3:16), so have we also been (Eph. 1:6; Heb. 10:19-22).  In our reconciliation to the objectives of the Father in the Son, and the work which He is executing through Him, we are also Christ-like. “We are looking forward to the day of judgment as the consummation of our hope, and the Redeemer is working in the world with a view to that day as the consummation of His mediatorial reign (I Cor. 15:24-28; Heb. 10:12-13). ‘This world’ (I Jn. 4:17; cf. Gal. 1:4), as distinguished from ‘the world,’ emphasizes the idea of transitoriness. Just so, Christ, in His redeeming work, and we in our believing hope, are working with the same goal in view— ‘the day of judgment.’ This world is but a passing phase of things. This is the day in which our Lord Jesus is carrying on His saving work in the world, and His educating process in the church; and all with a view to ‘the great day.’ Believers, too, are only in the preliminary period of their training, and hence they, too, believe and hope and love with a view to ‘that day.’ As their Lord is, so are they in this passing world, looking to and preparing for what lies above and beyond it.” Hence such passages of Scripture as these: Mt. 25; Mk. 13:35-37; Lk. 12:35-40; 21:34-36; Rom. 14:9-12; I Cor. 4:5; II Cor. 5:10; Phil. 1:6, 10; Col. 1:28-29; I Th. 5:23; II Tim. 1:12.

Conclusion. Since the fruit of trustfully abiding in God’s love is so precious, the work of the believer clearly is cut out for him. It is, as the Savior requested, to “continue in My love” (Jn. 15:9-10).  Or, as expressed by Jude, to “keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 21). Or, by Paul to Timothy, “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit which dwelleth in us” (II Tim. 1:14).

As the embattled saint wages the warfare of abiding in God and permitting God to abide in him, the assurances of Scripture encourage and sustain his heart. “The anointing which ye have received of Him abideth in you,” wrote John earlier in his first epistle, “and ye need not that any man teach you; but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is true, and is no lie, and as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in Him” (I Jn. 2:27). In his second letter, the Apostle voiced like assurance. The “elect lady,” to whom it is addressed, he loved “for the truth’s sake,” he said.

Which truth, he continued, “abideth in us, and shall be with us for ever” (II Jn. 1-2).  With full confidence in God, let us therefore determine to heed the apostolic exhortation: “And now, little children, abide in Him; that, when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming” (I Jn. 2:28). So shall we claim the beatitude of our Lord, proclaimed from Heaven: “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame” (Rev. 16:15). 

The Glory of the Cross

"When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am He," (Jn. 8:28). "I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me (Jn. 12:32). Properly understood, the cross is a principal manifestation of Christ's Sonship and glory. Thus, His remark as the cross loomed hard before Him: "The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified" (Jn. 12:23; cf. vv. 24-25, 27-28). On the cross, He put away the sin of the world and brought in everlasting righteousness, so opening the door of salvation to all men.  

God was glorified in the Son when He was "put to death in the flesh, in order to bring God's lost creatures back to Him (I Pet. 3:18). And, since the Son thereby glorified the Father, the Father, in turn, glorified the Son (Jn. 13:31-32; cf. Phil. 2:5-11). 

The same principle is operative with regard to us. If we glorify God by identification with and submission to His Son, God will, in due season, glorify us (Jn. 12:26; Rom. 8:17; Col. 3:3). "If we be dead with Him, we shall also live [and reign] with Him" (II Tim. 2:11-12; cf. Rom. 6:8).--Harold F. Lohse

Benefits Proceeding from Believing God

Benefits Proceeding from Believing God

By Al Stoner

Believing God always makes for advantage to the believing ones. There is always personal spiritual benefit, especially, that will be derived from simply believing the Scripture. For example, consider the following:

The Reception of Salvation. With regard to the reception of salvation and the deliverance from condemnation Jesus said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned" (Mk. 16:16).  Let us continually put one another in mind of the direct connection of believing and having been baptized with being saved: that is, being saved from the wrath to come, saved unto life eternal, saved with a great and everlasting salvation, just to name a few of the blessed involvements. While these things may already be believed by us, yet, in the time of temptation and affliction, there is a vital need for men to be persuaded anew and afresh of these things and of this vital connection. As Jude declared, "I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this" (Jude 3). We ought ever to give thanks for sacred memories which may be stirred up and drawn upon for strength in the day of evil. 

The old serpent would seek to convince us that these requirements (faith and baptism), given by the Lord Himself, either are not enough for the obtainment of salvation, or at another opposite extreme, that they are not of such great consequence. Let us not be ignorant of his devices! 

The Word to Nicodemus. And again, speaking of the same benefit, the Lord declared to Nicodemus, "He that believeth on Him (the Son) is not condemned" (Jn. 3:18). That is marvelously good news to the individual who has been convinced by the law that he has sinned and come short of the glory of God! May such affirmations of the Savior as this ever be given room to sink down into our ears! O the blessedness of receiving them and pondering them. Let us hang all of our hopes upon His Word and believe upon Him with all of our hearts!  O hear again, and believe the glad tidings: He that believeth on Him (Christ) is not condemned!

A Blessing and a Curse Contrasted. Another similar affirmation of the Savior reads as follows: "He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (Jn. 3:36). Here the wonderful blessedness associated with believing and the very severe consequences for not believing are set in juxtaposition to each other. We can come to appreciate more the glorious benefits that are inextricably tied to believing by beholding contrasts of this sort.

Rivers of Living Water. "He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly [or, from within him (ASV)] shall flow rivers of living water" (Jn. 7:38). Believing on the Savior not only benefits the believer, but enables him or her to be of great profit to those all around.  The rivers of living waters speak of the knowledge of both the Father and the Son given to believing men by the Holy Spirit.

"Rivers of living water" also speak of an abundance of the life-giving water that may flow out of the believer in Christ to those round about him or her. This living water may have the ministry of nourishing other brothers and sisters in Christ, or it may have the effect of convincing the sinner of his or her absolute need for the Savior. Also, it is a blessedly joyous experience to have the living water flowing out to others from within oneself. Let us continually draw near and make ourselves available to the Savior to be used of Him in this manner! 

The Possibility of All Things. "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mk. 9:23). It is good for us to continually cast all of our cares upon Him, with whom all things are possible (cf. Lk. 1:37). While we remain in this present evil world, we shall frequently be confronted with situations and obstacles which appear to be jeopardous and seemingly out of control. But when those times come, let us seek to "glorify" "the Lord" even "in the fires" (Isa. 24:15) of adversity and trial. And though we may be sorely tempted to fret and to reason things out with the carnal mind, let us ever remember that "all things are possible to him that believeth!" "The Lord God Omnipotent" (Rev. 19:6) is "for us" (Rom. 8:31), and He will make all things work together for good to those who love Him, and who are the called according to His purpose (cf. Rom. 8:28). 

The Satisfying of Man's Inward Hunger and Thirst. "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to Me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on Me shall never thirst" (Jn. 6:35).  While we remain here in this world as strangers and pilgrims, we shall, according to the measure of our faith, continue to hunger and thirst for the Savior and for the living God. We long to be forever uninhibitedly in Their Presence. But we are no longer hungering and thirsting aimlessly and without purpose. Our hunger and thirst have been partially satisfied even now through the knowledge of the Father and the Son that we have by faith. We shall be completed satisfied when we arrive safely in the presence of God and of the Lamb. “I shall be satisfied, when I shall awake with Thy likeness,” the Psalmist declared.  In the present time we are waiting for the hope of righteousness, and living in prospect of being fully conformed to the image of God’s Son.

The Promise of Life. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on Me hath everlasting life" (Jn. 6:47). We ought to give thanks for the great plainness of speech with which the Savior affirms this promise. It is declarations such as these that have the ability to sustain us in the hour of temptation. Let us let these words sink down into our hearts' affection! Let us seek to triumphantly glorify God by our faith in His beloved Son!

Faith and the Power of God. "I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Rom. 1:16-17).

This power is not exerted upon men from without, but rather it is power that is summoned into action from within as men believe the record which God has given of His Son. It is power that is operative wherever there is faith in God's Son, to enable them to live godly, to perfect holiness in the fear of God, and to set their affection on things above. It is power that is unto salvation.

Faith and the End of the Law. "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth" (Rom. 10:4). Faith is not the beginning of lawlessness for the believer in God's Son, but it is the end of the law's requirement as being the condition of salvation. For those who are in Christ, obeying the gospel and continuing in the faith are the conditions that must be met for the reception of salvation. Those conditions are certainly doable to those who have an honest and good heart, and we ought to give thanks to God continually for this blessed arrangement and benefit. 

The Benefit of Unashamedness. "Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded" (I Pet. 2:6).  There are often times when the people of God are confounded and put to shame in this world by rebuffs from the ungodly. But shame and consternation shall not be their ultimate portion. When they are at last inducted into the "everlasting habitations" (Lk. 16:9), they shall never again be "confounded world without end" (Isa. 45:17).

The Benefit of Overcoming. "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" (I Jn. 5:5). We must overcome the world in all three of its essential elements: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (2:15-16). 

Some of the most notable of the sons of earth have sought, in their own way, to overcome and conquer the world. From God's perspective, however, they all failed, and the world, with all of its sinful lusts, actually overcame them. But every one who has believed that Jesus is the Son of God, and who continues in that confidence unto death, or until His appearing, they shall, without question, overcome the world! By their faith they shall have been the victors over the world's lusts, pride, and corruption, and they shall be "accounted worthy to obtain that world" (Lk. 20:35).

The Witness in Ourselves. "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made Him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of His Son" (I Jn. 5:10). It is one thing to be an heir to the benefits of salvation, and it is quite another to know, of a certainty, that these benefits are ours. It is by means of this witness within us that we know that we have eternal life (I Jn. 5:13), and that "we know that we know Him" (cf. 2:3). --Editor

III John 11

"Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God" (III John 11).