Blessed are the Dead which Die in the Lord

Blessed are the Dead which die in the Lord

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:13).

The Context. “And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, saying with a loud voice, 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.”

“And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.”

“And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

“Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them” (Rev. 14:6-13).

The Witness of the Psalmists and Prophets.  “Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people” (Gen. 25:8). “And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him” (Gen. 35:29).

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (Ps. 116:15). 

Job, when he cursed his day, made a startling utterance with regard to what he knew of the state of the righteous dead. “There the wicked cease from troubling; and there the weary be at rest. There the prisoners rest together; they hear not the voice of the oppressor. The small and great are there; and the servant is free from his master” (Job 3:17-19).

The Testimony of Isaiah.  “The righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it to heart: and merciful men are taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from the evil to come. He shall enter into peace: they shall rest in their beds, each one walking in his uprightness” (Isa. 57:1-2). 

Resting in their beds and walking. This speaks of a rest that is associated with activity on the part of the departed dead. 

None considering, these were taken away from the evil to come.  These are no longer in jeopardies, as the domain to which they have been blessedly removed is one of security and safety.

The Words of the Savior. “And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom” (Lk. 16:22-23).

The Witness of Paul. “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life. Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit” (II Cor. 5:1-5).

That of Peter.  “For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit” (I Pet. 4:6).

A Voice from Heaven. A voice from Heaven, speaking in the behalf of Heaven, with Heaven’s authority.

Write! At the beginning of the Revelation, John was commanded, “What thou seest, write in a book, and send it to the seven churches.” And several times throughout the Revelation John was commanded to write, or even not to write, specific things that he was given to behold.

The Dead which Die in the Lord.  Those who are faithful unto death.  Those in whom is demonstrated “the patience of the saints”, who “keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus” unto the time of their departure from this present world.

From Henceforth. Most of the translations read “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth”, or “from now own”.  But a few of the translations attach the “from henceforth” to the following clause.  “And I heard a voice from heaven, saying to me: Write: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord. From henceforth now, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours. For their works follow them” (DRB).

The Dead which Die in the Lord from Henceforth.  The sufferings of Christ, and the glory which has followed has introduced a blessed change of condition for both the living and the dead.  For the righteous dead, any gloominess that may have been associated with the unseen realm of the departed dead, has now been completely expelled.  Now this domain is one of triumphant anticipation and expectation for what is next on the Divine agenda.

From Henceforth, that they May Rest from their Labors. Those individuals who have made their departure to be with Christ have entered into a state of blessedness where they

Yea, Saith the Spirit. The Spirit affirms the blessedness of the state of the dead in Christ, as a double confirmation, similar to God swearing with an oath.

They Rest from their Labors.  They are resting from the toil associated with the work of faith, and labor of love, which they had shown towards Christ’s Name when they were yet here with us.  They are resting from the burdensomeness of life, in general, here in the realm of the curse. 

Their Works Do Follow Them.  Their works, which were done in faith while yet in this world continue to be a living example.  Their works live on and continue to minister to those who are yet in this present realm, attesting to the fact that the ones who did the works, while they were yet here, are still alive, though promoted of God to another realm.

 

“There is no death”

J. L. McCreery

 

THERE is no death! the stars go down   To rise upon some other shore, And bright in heaven’s jewelled crown   They shine forever more.   There is no death! the forest leaves         5   Convert to life the viewless air; The rocks disgorge to feed   The hungry moss they bear.   There is no death! the dust we tread   Shall change, beneath the summer showers,         10 To golden grain, or mellow fruit,   Or rainbow-tinted flowers.   There is no death! the leaves may fall,   The flowers may fade and pass away— They only wait, through wintry hours,         15   The warm sweet breath of May.   There is no death! the choicest gifts   That heaven hath kindly lent to earth Are ever first to seek again   The country of their birth.         20   And all things that for growth of joy   Are worthy of our love or care, Whose loss has left us desolate,   Are safely garnered there.   Though life become a dreary waste,         25   We know its fairest, sweetest flowers, Transplanted into paradise,   Adorn immortal bowers.   The voice of bird-like melody   That we have missed and mourned so long         30 Now mingles with the angel choir   In everlasting song.   There is no death! although we grieve   When beautiful, familiar forms That we have learned to love are torn         35   From our embracing arms;   Although with bowed and breaking heart,   With sable garb and silent tread, We bear their senseless dust to rest,   And say that they are “dead.”         40   They are not dead! they have but passed   Beyond the mists that blind us here Into the new and larger life   Of that serener sphere.   They have but dropped their robe of clay         45   To put their shining raiment on; They have not wandered far away—   They are not “lost” or “gone.”   Though disenthralled and glorified,   They still are here and love us yet;         50 The dear ones they have left behind   They never can forget.   And sometimes, when our hearts grow faint   Amid temptations fierce and deep, Or when the wildly raging waves         55   Of grief or passion sweep,   We feel upon our fevered brow   Their gentle touch, their breath of balm; Their arms enfold us, and our hearts   Grow comforted and calm.         60   And ever near us, though unseen,   The dear, immortal spirits tread; For all the boundless universe   Is life—there are no dead. 1863.

                                        

 

 

 

The Sealing of the Servants of God in their Foreheads

The Sealing of the Servants of God in their Foreheads

By Al Stoner

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads” (Rev. 7:2-3).

1.    It is true that “judgment must begin at the house of God” (I Pet. 4:17; cf. Ezek. 9:6; Isa. 10:12), as Peter declared, as God will, in the end, be clear of any charges of partiality in His righteous dealings with the sons of men.

2.    If His people sin, He will visit their transgression with the rod, as is recorded in Psalm 89,

3.    But before any visitations of His wrath come upon the ungodly, God will mark those who are His, sealing them in their foreheads.

4.    The seal will not necessarily spare His people from calamity and woe, but it will ensure that they are brought safely through tribulation and affliction with their faith intact.

5.    Experientially, the seal manifests itself in men by such things as the full assurance of faith, and confidence in God through the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Sealing of the Twelve Tribes.  “And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand” (Rev. 7:4-8).

1.    “And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob” (Rom. 11:26).

2.    The 144,000 which were redeemed from the earth, speaks of completeness, as to the fulfillment of God’s eternal purpose in Christ Jesus. 

3.    In chapter 7 the completeness seems to pertain to “the whole house of Israel” (Lev. 10:6; Jer. 13:11; Ezek. 37:11; 39:25; 45:6).  But in Revelation 14:1 the 144,000 seems to include all redeemed personalities.

4.    Like the number 7, the number 12 is one that expresses completeness in Scripture.  And here we have 12 X 12,000, denoting completeness as a whole, and as well completeness with regard to each of the twelve tribes of Israel.

5.    Even as the Lord has a particular regard for His people as a whole, He likewise has a special regard for each individually.

6.    The number 144,000 is symbolic of wholeness and fullness, and cannot be taken as being literal, as the number is elsewhere described as “so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable” (Heb. 11:12).

A Similar Marking of God’s People in Ezekiel’s Prophecy.  “He cried also in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause them that have charge over the city to draw near, even every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. And, behold, six men came from the way of the higher gate, which lieth toward the north, and every man a slaughter weapon in his hand; and one man among them was clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side: and they went in, and stood beside the brasen altar. And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon he was, to the threshold of the house. And he called to the man clothed with linen, which had the writer's inkhorn by his side; And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in mine hearing, Go ye after him through the city, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity: Slay utterly old and young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near any man upon whom is the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient men which were before the house” (Ezek. 9:1-6).

1.    Those who were marked were the men that sigh and cry for all the abominations that are done in the midst of Jerusalem, and in our case, in the midst of the church.

2.    The sighing and crying involves thinking God’s thoughts, at least, in measure, being in agreement with Him: His thoughts about that which He loves and hates, approves of and disapproves of. 

3.    Those who sighed and cried were marked for preservation from the evil to come.

4.    The mark did not necessarily ensure that trouble would not come to those who sighed and cried for the abominations, but rather that they would be preserved through the trouble.

The Fifth Trumpet. “And the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomless pit. And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads” (Rev. 9:1-4).

1.    The locusts were commanded of God to hurt only those who have not the seal of God in their foreheads.

2.    For all other men it was open season. This was the first of the last three woes that were uttered in Revelation 8:13.

3.    Every man and woman must examine themselves to see that they have this seal in their foreheads.  Are we in fundamental agreement with the will of God as it is revealed in the Scriptures?  Do we have a purged conscience?

4.    If men have this seal of God in their foreheads, this is their pledge that they will arrive safely in the world to come, in spite of the persecutions and oppositions spawned by the Devil.

The Second of Two Beasts.  “And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon. And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live. And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Rev. 13:11-17).

1.    “the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.”

2.    Both the first and the second beast identified in Revelation 13 are animated by the Devil, the first beast being worldly government, and the second, religious government.

3.    Both have significance for the people of God because of the fierce opposition of these two beasts against those who “keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.”

4.    The seemingly best of civil governments finally raise their ugly heads in opposition against Christ and His brethren, against God and His eternal purpose in Christ.

5.    Perhaps, all the present oppositions and assaults against Israel, and against the Jews are an indication of God preparing to consummate His purpose with Israel, grafting them back into their own olive tree (Rom. 11).

6.    Papal Rome rose out of the ashes of pagan Rome. 

7.    What is declared in Revelation 13 about the first and the second beast is not a history lesson, although there are definite connections with world history.

8.    During the reign of Constantine (306-337 AD), Satan subtly change his tactic of opposition against the church.  Instead of rabidly persecuting the church, as in the past, “Christianity” was then adopted as the state religion.

9.    “When Constantine moved his capital to Constantinople (330 AD), the Pope inherited the power, prestige, and even titles of the Roman emperors. The most significant of such titles is Pontifex Maximus, a pagan title that means ‘Bridge builder between heaven and Earth.’”

10.  In 476 A.D. pagan Rome fell to rise no more, having already been invaded several times. 

11.  “In 538 AD, the emperor Justinian issued a decree, proclaiming the Pope to be supreme in religious matters. Since then, the Pope has assumed the garb of representative of Jesus Christ on Earth.”

12.  The worship of the two beasts mentioned in Revelation was imposed (forced) upon men.  They were caused to receive a mark in their right hand and in their foreheads.

The One Hundred and Forty and Four Thousand Standing with the Lamb on Mount Zion.  “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads” (Rev. 14:1).

1.    Having their Father’s Name Written in their Foreheads.  In each of the references to God’s Name being written in the forehead, there is no mention of His Name being written in the hand.

2.    This seems to speak of a willing submission on the part of those, in whose foreheads God’s Name is being written.

3.    This is characteristic of the New Covenant where God writes His laws upon the heart and in the mind.

4.    The hands are willingly affected by the writing in the forehead without coercion.

5.    Where men happen to be amiss with regard to being duly affected by the writing in the mind, James will have something to say to all such ones.  Faith without works is dead.

 

A Warning against being Identified with the Beast.  “And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name” (Rev. 14:9-11).

1.    Satan capitalizes on “the fear of man” which “bringeth a snare”, as Solomon expressed it.  By this men are coerced into receiving the mark in their right hand, and in their forehead.

2.    The mark in the forehead speaks of men’s thoughts being conformed to this world by coercion, where Satan is prince.

3.    The mark in the right hand speaks of men’s actions being conformed to this present world, and of their allegiance being given unto the beast.

4.    Being caused to receive a mark in their hand and in their forehead means that not even Satan, working through the beast and the false prophet, allows secret discipleship.

5.    But the warning here is against receiving the mark in one’s hand or in one’s forehead. Any identification at all with the beast and his image puts men in danger of tasting of the wrath of God.

6.    Men must, by the grace of God, purpose in their hearts that they will not submit to the coercive powers of the beast in any way.

7.    With regard to the first beast (earthly government) the people of God can and must be good citizens, so long as the laws imposed are not contrary to the will of God.

A Name Written upon the Forehead of the Whore.  “And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH” (Rev. 17:5).

The Identity of the Souls Beheaded for the Witness of Jesus.  “And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years” (Rev. 20:4).

“And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads” (Rev. 22:4).

1.    This speaks of the blessed prospect of new creatureship being the only creatureship, and when this mortal shall have put on immortality, and this corruptible shall have put on incorruption.

2.    It speaks of the prospect of His Name being indelibly written in redeemed personalities, when faith shall have given place to sight, and when men shall appear with the Savior in glory.

3.    Let every man examine themselves to be certain that God’s Name is written in their foreheads.

Preaching Festival, Consider Christ Jesus

Preaching Festival Announcement, June 5-7, 2015

Consider Christ Jesus
As Revealed in the Fulfillment of Isaiah Chapter 42

Location:
The Factory
17543 Nassau Commons Blvd
Lewes De 19958

Date:
June 5 (6-9pm) June 6 (9-3), June 7 (9-1) 

Brethren,

With anticipation and by the grace of God we will be hosting a meeting to Consider Christ Jesus, June 5-7. 

Our theme this year is considering Jesus in the fulfillment of Isaiah 42; primarily we want to consider that God sent a Man, THE Man, the Savior, to be a covenant to the people. The New Covenant would not be like the old. We didn't just need to be told what to do. We needed someone to save us; someone to do the will of God; someone to please the Father and also make us acceptable. We needed Jesus . . . and we still do need Jesus. Praise God, we have Him. We want to talk about this at great length. 

Below is a list of topics from Isaiah 42 and we are asking that you join us and bring your insight and understanding with you. Please choose three topics that you would like to minister on and we will be able to put together a schedule for our time together. 

In Isaiah’s Prophecy the following things are Declared of the Lord Jesus Christ:

— He is God's Servant (v. 1)

— He is Upheld By God (v. 1)

— He is Chosen By God (v. 1)

— He is God's Delight (v. 1)

— God's Spirit is on Him (v. 1)

— He Brings forth Judgment (vv. 1, 3, 4)

— He Does not cry, nor lift up, nor cause His voice to be heard in the street  (v. 2)

— He Does not break a bruised reed or quench a smoking flax  (v. 3)

— He Shall not fail nor be discouraged  (v. 4)

— He was Called in righteousness  (v. 6)

— He is Kept by God  (v. 6)

— He Has Been Given for a covenant to the people  (v. 6)

— He is a Light to the Gentiles  (v. 6)

— He Opens blind eyes  (v. 7)

— He Brings out the prisoners from the prison  (v. 7)

— God's glory is not given to another  (v. 8)

— The Former things are come to pass, and new things are being declared  (v. 9)

Contact: Pat Woods

 

 

 

The Divine Appointment of Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks, Part 1

The Divine Appointment of Salvation for Walls and Bulwarks

(Isa. 26:1)

(Part 1)

By Michael Zaucha

Our Great God and Father is revealed as the One “who declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it” (Isa. 46:10-11), and Jesus Christ our Lord, God’s Beloved Son, God’s Elect Servant (Isa. 42:1), as Him who was sent to accomplish all of His Father’s good pleasure, and He has and continues to do so is the good news of the Gospel.

It is a Provision of God. “In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks” (Isa. 26.1). The provision of a strong city is God’s appointed work, and praise God, it is an appointment He was faithful to keep. It is being manifested now as true, and will even moreso be shown to be true when Jesus comes again “from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (II Th. 1:7-9).

We all had better be in that strong city on that day.

Man is not able to think of such a Provision against what is to come, let alone provide for it. From this perspective, it’s a hands-off work to man. To God alone be the glory for this mighty Provision of a strong city.

With the Provision of God’s appointment made, the prophet cries out unto God: “Open Ye the gates” (vs. 2) – the crying out is unto God to do this for the people, for God is the One who must open the gates to the strong city – so “that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in.” In order for God’s people to partake of the Divine Provision, they must enter into it, and it is only God that can open the gates of entry to the strong city, and then and only then, the righteous nation may enter into it - the righteous being them being those who keep the truth. Jesus spoke of such a nation that keepeth the truth are in a most favored position with God: “Blessed are they which hear the word of God, and keep it” (Lk. 11:28). “Thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17).

To each of the individuals and the entirety of the body of the righteous nation, “Thou (God) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee.” (vs. 3). With the Provision made of a strong city, and the gates to it opened, again, there is more good news to declare: the promise of God to keep you in that place where He hath brought you in, for it is a place of peace, but know that there is a requirement of the righteous that have entered into it, and that is to stay where God has placed them, and they do so by trusting in God, in trusting and believing in the Provision that He Himself has provided, that it will affect the very thing that God said it would.

So the exhortation is to the righteous nation, both then and now: “Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength” (Isa. 26:1-4). Hear the precision of the revelation to partake of everlasting strength.

The necessary strength to endure to the end is not around the Lord, it is not even by the Lord. It is far more closer and intimate than that - it is “IN” the Lord that is the place of obtainment of everlasting strength found.

(Continued Tomorrow)

 

.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is of Faith, that it might be by Grace

It is of Faith, that it might be by Grace
By Al Stoner

"Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all" (Rom. 4:16).

The Identification of "It". The "it" of reference (it is of faith) pertains to the manner in which the "blessedness", of which David spoke (Ps. 32:1-2; Rom. 4:6-10), comes upon men, who were once associated with sinful defilements. It has reference to the way that righteousness is able to be imputed unto men (Rom. 4:5). It answers the question regarding how that the holy God is able to justify the ungodly (cf. Rom. 4:5). To the unthinking mind, these matters might appear to be insignificant and inconsequential. But not so. It required the most thorough exercise of the Divine wisdom to devise means so that God's banished be not expelled from Him (cf. II Sam. 14:14). And expelled, or cast away, they would have to be, unless suitable and adequate means had been devised of Him.

Present-day religionists are very assuming, and have not even come up to the level of Bildad the Shuhite, who queried, "How then can man be justified with God? or how can he be clean that is born of a woman?" (Job 25:4). And hear Job himself as he asks a similar question, "I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?" (Job 9:2). It is not until men have been perplexed by questions such as these that they will be enabled to receive with gladness the blessed provision for the putting away of sins in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And the means, so far as men are concerned, is by faith.

It is of Faith. Therefore it is of faith, (which is to say), It's not by the means of keeping the law or by the doing of the works of the law. It is not by the means of vain attempts to measure up to God's standard, or God's righteousness, or God's glory. Nor is it by the means of doing the best that one can, as some are heard to speak. And it is not by the means of using resources received from Adam, from the natural man, or from tradition. Those possessing this faith and living by faith are those who are "born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (Jn. 1:13).

Rather, it is of faith, it is by the receiving and belief of Divine testimony. "He that hath received His testimony hath set to His seal that God (who cannot lie) is true" (Jn. 3:33; cf. Tit. 1:1). It is by believing God. It is by believing the record which God has given of His Son. Oh, to see more clearly ourselves, and be able to persuade men more effectively of the gravity that is associated with believing this record, as well as the grave consequences of not believing it! This is a matter about which God is most sensitive. He has put His very Person and Character "on the line" (cf. Gen. 22:16-18; Ps. 110:4; Heb. 6:13-20), as it were, in the commitments and promises which He has made regarding "the gospel of His Son" (Rom. 1:9).

It is of faith. That is, it is by taking hold of those things that are revealed in the Scriptures and which have become substantive to our inward perception because of faith. It is by justifying God by the possession of evidence of things that are not seen, only for the reason that He has testified of them. It is by the means of an inward persuasion of things that are revealed of God in His Word, and yet not seen. Such things as these are not perceptible with the resources of the natural man. "The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God" (I Cor. 2:14).

It is of faith. It is by the means of God working all of His salvational works in and through men, and yet the possessors of this faith are involved in that work every step of the way. "But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God" (Jn. 3:21). These are the words of the King, and they are good words! Consider that which was spoken by Isaiah: "Thou also hast wrought all our works in us" (Isa. 26:12). "This people have I formed for Myself; they shall shew forth My praise" (Isa. 43:12). And again, Paul declared, "we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10).

All of these things mentioned above are of faith; they absolutely involve the exercise of the faith, of which the Lord Jesus Christ is both the Author and Finisher (Heb. 12:1-2). Again, Paul affirmed, it is given unto men to believe on Christ (cf. Phil. 1:29). And yet that faith is to be diligently maintained by the ones possessing it (cf. Jn. 6:27-29). This is the fundamental "assignment" that God gives to "every man" (Jn.6:45) that would come to Jesus, and continue in Him (cf. I Jn. 2:24). "This is the work of God, that ye believe on Him (Christ) whom He (God the Father) hath sent" (Jn. 6:29). This is a lifetime assignment, and it is an all-encompassing one.

That it might be by grace. It is of faith, in order that God's grace may be brought into the forefront of consideration, both to men and to heavenly intelligences. It is of faith, in order that that good thing which Noah "had" (Gen. 6:8) may not only be the benefit of eight souls (cf. I Pet. 3:20), but, much more than this, may be magnified and multiplied in a vast multitude which shall be as "the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable" (Heb. 11:12) "world without end" (Eph. 3:21). It shall be "a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues" (Rev. 7:9). Such is the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.

It is of faith, so that the contrition and repentance expressed by David after sinning with Bathsheba (Ps. 51), may become the mind of all who are turning away from their sins, and believing on the Name of the only begotten Son of God.

It is of faith, so that God's thoughts may become the thoughts of redeemed personalities. As the Psalmist, transcending the covenant of his time, expressed the mind of all of the partakers of the salvation which is in Christ, "How precious also are Thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!" (Ps. 139:17). It is of faith, so that men may fellowship with God, even in the matter of the putting away of their sins by the Lord Jesus Christ. Such fellowship is experienced in the possession of a purged conscience, a conscience purged from dead works to serve the living God.

It is of faith, in order that of all the glory that God revealed unto Moses, "merciful and gracious" may now, in these last days, become the most prominent and glorious of them all through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus. Moses had to be hid in "a clift of the rock" (Exod. 33:22) in order that he might behold somewhat of God's glory. But in the world to come, because sins have been effectually put away by Christ, redeemed personalities eternally shall bask with exceeding great delight in the glory of God, because "the throne of God and of the Lamb" (Rev. 22:1, 3) shall be there. "The throne of God and of the Lamb", even in the present time, speaks a marvelous cordial to all those who are now engaged in the warfare of faith, striving against sin, and drawing nigh unto God with a true heart, in full assurance of faith.

It is of faith because Christ has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel (II Tim. 1:8-10). The blessed abolition of death, eternal life, and immortality are things which are perceptible, yea, they may be handled, in a very real sense, by those who are living by faith. It is of faith, because Christ has tasted death for every man (cf. Heb. 2:9). It is of faith, because Christ has once suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God (I Pet. 3:17).

It is of faith, because God Himself is inclined to be being gracious. It is of faith, because mercy and truth have now met together, and righteousness and peace have kissed each other (cf.Ps. 85:10) in the purging of sins by Christ. It is of faith, so that God may be unrestricted in the display of His love, mercy, grace, and kindness to believing men, namely, to those who are in Christ Jesus.The fact being stated, this is not to cast any reflection on the Character of God. The law was "added because of transgressions, till the Seed (that is, Christ) should come to whom the promise was made" (Gal. 3:19).

To the End that the Promise might be Sure to all the Seed. The temporal blessings promised under the law, because of their dependence on perfect obedience on the part of the doers, were actually not sure to any of the seed under "the first covenant" (Heb. 9:1) . As James declared, "For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all" (Jas. 2:10; cf. Deut. 27:26; Gal. 3:10).

But in Christ, and in the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (II Tim. 2:10), there is a diametrically different modus operendi. It is that of faith, so that God may be gracious, so that His beloved Son and the salvation which is in HIm may become accessible to "whosoever will" (Rev. 22:17), to honest and good hearts (cf. Lk. 8:15), to those who are given to mourn because of their sin (cf. Mt. 5:4), to those who hunger and thirst after righteousness (Mt. 5:6), to those whom God teaches to greatly value His Son (cf. Jn. 6:45) and who thus receive Him (Jn. 1:12) and continue in Him (I Jn. 2:24).

The promise is sure to all the seed, because fulfillment of the promise depends entirely upon God, and upon Christ. As it is written, "it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy" (Rom. 9:16). By virtue of this situation, men are thrust entirely upon "God, who cannot lie" (Tit. 1:1), and upon Christ, who is "the faithful Witness" (Rev. 1:5), for both the accomplishment and full realization of "the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus" (II Tim. 1:1). "And this is the promise that He hath promised us, even eternal life" (I Jn. 2:25). Jesus said, "Ye believe in God, believe also in Me" (Jn. 14:1).

It is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end that the promise might be sure to all the seed. --editor@banner.org

God Forbid that We Should be Indifferent

A Surpassingly Blessed Situation
By Fred O. Blakely

Having our "hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water," or, having believed in Jesus and been baptized into Him, we are to confidently enter the heavenly throne room over the "new and living way" thus consecrated for us "through the veil" (KJV). This is, indeed, a surpassingly blessed situation—the one anticipated by the Prophets and prefigured by the types and shadows of the Jewish institutions (Heb. 8:1-33; 11:39-40; I Pet. 1:10-12). God forbid that we should be indifferent to it, or fail to fully avail ourselves of the heavenly fellowship and blessing which it offers.