The character of the Christian is shown by his daily life. Said Christ,
"Every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth
forth evil fruit" (Matt. 7:17). Our Saviour compares Himself to a vine,
of which His followers are the branches. He plainly declares that all who
would be His disciples must bring forth fruit; and then He shows how they
may become fruitful branches. "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch
cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye,
except ye abide in me" (John 15:4).
The apostle Paul describes the fruit which the Christian is to bear.
He says that it "is in all goodness and righteousness and truth" (Eph.
5:9). And again, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance" (Gal. 5:22, 23). These
precious graces are but the principles of God's law carried out in the
life.
The law of God is the only true standard of moral perfection. That law
was practically exemplified in the life of Christ. He says of Himself,
"I have kept my Father's commandments" (John 15:10). Nothing short of this
obedience will meet the requirements of God's word. "He that saith he abideth
in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked" (1 John 2:6).
We cannot plead that we are unable to do this, for we have the assurance,
"My grace is sufficient for thee" (2 Cor. 12:9). As we look into the divine
mirror, the law of God, we see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and our
own lost condition as transgressors. But by repentance and faith we are
justified before God, and through divine grace enabled to render obedience
to His commandments.
Love for God and Man
Those who have genuine love for God will manifest an earnest desire
to know His will and to do it. Says the apostle John, whose epistles treat
so fully upon love, "This is the love of God, that we keep his commandments"
(1 John 5:3). The child who loves his parents will show that love by willing
obedience; but the selfish, ungrateful child seeks to do as little as possible
for his parents, while he at the same time desires to enjoy all the privileges
granted to the obedient and faithful. The same difference is seen among
those who profess to be children of God. Many who know that they are the
objects of His love and care, and who desire to receive His blessing, take
no delight in doing His will. They regard God's claims upon them as an
unpleasant restraint, His commandments as a grievous yoke. But he who is
truly seeking for holiness of heart and life delights in the law of God,
and mourns only that he falls so far short of meeting its requirements.
We are commanded to love one another as Christ has loved us. He has
manifested His love by laying down His life to redeem us. The beloved disciple
says that we should be willing to lay down our lives for the brethren.
For "every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten
of him" (verse 1). If we love Christ, we shall love those who resemble
Him in life and character. And not only so, but we shall love those who
have "no hope," and are "without God in the world" (Eph. 2:12). It was
to save sinners that Christ left His home in heaven and came to earth to
suffer and to die. For this He toiled and agonized and prayed, until, heartbroken
and deserted by those He came to save, He poured out His life on Calvary.
Imitating the Pattern
Many shrink from such a life as our Saviour lived. They feel that it
requires too great a sacrifice to imitate the Pattern, to bring forth fruit
in good works, and then patiently endure the pruning of God that they may
bring forth more fruit. But when the Christian regards himself as only
a humble instrument in the hands of Christ, and endeavors to faithfully
perform every duty, relying upon the help which God has promised, then
he will wear the yoke of Christ and find it easy; then he will bear burdens
for Christ, and pronounce them light. He can look up with courage and with
confidence, and say, "I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that
he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him" (2 Tim. 1:12).
If we meet obstacles in our path, and faithfully overcome them; if we
encounter opposition and reproach, and in Christ's name gain the victory;
if we bear responsibilities and discharge our duties in the spirit of our
Master--then, indeed, we gain a precious knowledge of His faithfulness
and power. We no longer depend upon the experience of others, for we have
the witness in ourselves. Like the Samaritans of old, we can say, "We have
heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour
of the world" (John 4:42).
The more we contemplate the character of Christ, and the more we experience
of His saving power, the more keenly shall we realize our own weakness
and imperfection, and the more earnestly shall we look to Him as our strength
and our Redeemer. We have no power in ourselves to cleanse the soul temple
from its defilement; but as we repent of our sins against God, and seek
pardon through the merits of Christ, He will impart that faith which works
by love and purifies the heart. By faith in Christ and obedience to the
law of God we may be sanctified, and thus obtain a fitness for the society
of holy angels and the white-robed redeemed ones in the kingdom of glory.
Union With Christ Our Privilege
It is not only the privilege but the duty of every Christian to maintain
a close union with Christ and to have a rich experience in the things of
God. Then his life will be fruitful in good works. Said Christ, "Herein
is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit" (John 15:8). When we read
the lives of men who have been eminent for their piety we often regard
their experiences and attainments as far beyond our reach. But this is
not the case. Christ died for all; and we are assured in His word that
He is more willing to give His Holy Spirit to them that ask Him than are
earthly parents to give good gifts to their children. The prophets and
apostles did not perfect Christian character by a miracle. They used the
means which God had placed within their reach; and all who will put forth
the same effort will secure the same results.
Paul's Prayer for the Church
In his letter to the church at Ephesus, Paul sets before them the "mystery
of the gospel" (Eph. 6:19), the "unsearchable riches of Christ" (Eph. 3:8),
and then assures them of his earnest prayers for their spiritual prosperity:
"I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, . . . that
he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened
with might by his Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your
hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able
to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth,
and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that
ye might be filled with all the fulness of God" (Eph. 3:14-19).
He writes to his Corinthian brethren also, "to them that are sanctified
in Christ Jesus. . . : Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father,
and from the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God always on your behalf, for
the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; that in every thing
ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; even as
the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: so that ye come behind in
no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:2-7).
These words are addressed not only to the church at Corinth but to all
the people of God to the close of time. Every Christian may enjoy the blessing
of sanctification.
The apostle continues in these words: "Now I beseech you, brethren,
by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing,
and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined
together in the same mind, and in the same judgment" (verse 10). Paul would
not have appealed to them to do that which was impossible. Unity is the
sure result of Christian perfection.
In the Epistle to the Colossians also are set forth the glorious privileges
vouchsafed to the children of God. "Since we heard of your faith in Christ
Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, . . . we also,
since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire
that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding; that ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all
pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge
of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto
all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness" (Col. 1:4-11).
The Standard of Holiness
The apostle himself was endeavoring to reach the same standard of holiness
which he set before his brethren. He writes to the Philippians: "What things
were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I
count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ
Jesus my Lord: . . . that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection,
and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as
though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow
after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of
Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this
one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching
forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the
prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3:7-14). There
is a striking contrast between the boastful, self-righteous claims of those
who profess to be without sin, and the modest language of the apostle.
Yet it was the purity and faithfulness of his own life that gave such power
to his exhortations to his brethren.
The Will of God
Paul did not hesitate to enforce, upon every suitable occasion, the
importance of Bible sanctification. He says: "Ye know what commandments
we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification"
(1 Thess. 4:2, 3). "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not
as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your
own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you
both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Do all things without murmurings
and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God,
without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom
ye shine as lights in the world" (Phil. 2:12-15).
He bids Titus instruct the church that while they should trust to the
merits of Christ for salvation, divine grace, dwelling in their hearts,
will lead to the faithful performance of all the duties of life. "Put them
in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates,
to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers,
but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men. . . . This is a faithful
saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they
which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These
things are good and profitable unto men" (Titus 3:1-8).
Paul seeks to impress upon our minds the fact that the foundation of
all acceptable service to God, as well as the very crown of the Christian
graces, is love; and that only in the soul where love reigns will the peace
of God abide. "Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved,
bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel
against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these
things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace
of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body;
and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom;
teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual
songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye
do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God and the Father of him" (Col. 3:12-17).
 |
 |