The Gospel Day Part 2

We wish to impress this fact upon the reader's mind that he was a light because of his purity and power, and because he was the "Truth." And now if you will but believe it, that is the true light of Christianity. The Lord Jesus was only a visitant. His stay on earth was transient. He came from heaven, and heaven soon again received him. Referring to his departure he said to his disciples: "Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light; ... while ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light." John 12:35, 36.

Again he says, "As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world." John 9:5. We learn the sad story of his crucifixion, then the glad news of his resurrection, and then his ascension in a cloud to the glory, from whence he came. Is the light of Christianity gone from the world? Is this world left again in darkness? No; thank G.o.d! Jesus now says to his devoted followers: "Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can not be hid." Mat. 5:14. It is the "city of Zion, the perfection of beauty," out of which G.o.d doth s.h.i.+ne. "The glory of G.o.d is risen upon her." Jesus told them to believe in the light while they had the light, that they might be the children of light. Paul, in exhorting Christians to a holy life, said: "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of G.o.d, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye s.h.i.+ne as lights in the world." Phil. 2:15. "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light."

Eph. 5:8. "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." 1 Thes. 5:5.

This is the spiritual moon reflecting the light of the Sun. It is "G.o.d that s.h.i.+neth in thee." They are "light in the Lord," and they are commanded to "let their light s.h.i.+ne, that G.o.d might be glorified." This is beautiful. Oh, what a privilege

To be a vessel transparent, Clear as the crystal sea, Letting the glorious light of heaven Brilliantly s.h.i.+ne through thee.

Beloved saints, take heed that there be not one spot in thee to obstruct the light of G.o.d. "Let it s.h.i.+ne." Submissively place thyself in the crucible and there be polished and refined and purged and cleansed until thou art "purer than snow, and whiter than milk, and more ruddy than rubies."

How can the Lord now, since his ascension, s.h.i.+ne through his church? The Scriptures make this very plain. Jesus told his own that he would not long be with them, but said, "I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:16-18.

In verse twenty-six he tells us the Comforter is the Holy Ghost. In the second chapter of Acts we have the account of the Holy Spirit's coming. If you will again look over the quotation from John 14:16-18 you will notice he uses "Comforter" and "I" interchangeably. He will give you another Comforter. "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." The Holy Spirit's coming on Pentecost was Christ in another personage. Christ in the Spirit has now come to dwell in the midst of his people, and to be a light in them. Jesus was here in the body on a mission of mercy. He tasted death for every man. He comes again in the Spirit to "reprove the world of righteousness, of sin, and of judgment." In Heb. 10:5 Jesus says, "A body hast thou prepared me." A body in which to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He now has a body in which he dwells in the Spirit.

Christians are "a holy temple in the Lord, in whom they are builded together for a habitation of G.o.d through the Spirit." Thus G.o.d inhabits his people, "dwells in them, and walks in them." The church of G.o.d is now the body of Christ. He is the "head over all things to the church, which is his body." Eph. 1:22, 23; see also Col. 1:18.

In speaking of saints in 1 Cor. 12:27 the apostle says, "Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular." He was the light of the world in his incarnation, and now the church, his body, is the light of the world. Incarnate he was a light because of his purity and power, and he lives the same pure life and manifests the same marvelous power in his body, the church, as when here in his personal ministry. He healed the sick, cast out devils, opened blinded eyes, unstopped deaf ears, and raised the dead. After the Holy Spirit's coming he performs the same wondrous works in his body, the church. Through the apostle Peter he healed a lame man, restored to life a dead woman, etc. He is "the very same Jesus." When he was here in the flesh he could be seen and his marvelous works witnessed by the natural eye. The Holy Spirit is imperceptible to the natural eye, and therefore can only reveal himself to the world as he works in the midst of his people. It is thus that Christians reflect the light of Christ.

In the sixteenth of Mark the Lord commanded his disciples to go "into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be d.a.m.ned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of G.o.d." Ver. 15-19.

In verse nineteen it is said the Lord was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of G.o.d. In verse twenty it is said, "They [the disciples] went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following." The Lord worked with them; then he must have returned. He did in the manner we have told you. He returned to be a light in the midst of his people by confirming the truth wherever it is lifted up. He did do it, and he now does it. G.o.d bears witness to his truth, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Heb. 2:4. For Christianity to be a light there must be the performance of signs and wonders and divers miracles.

Such is true Christianity, and such is her light, a queen swaying her scepter over the works of Satan, setting at liberty the captives, breaking the bands of Satan asunder, healing the diseased, and scattering peace and bright hopes in the hearts of men. Glory to G.o.d forevermore!

The Beauties Of Christian Character.

Not only does the Lord dwell in the midst of his people to perform deeds and signs of wonder, but he dwells in them in all the beauty of his holiness. In their hearts he rules a "King of peace" and purity. Those in whom he dwells "walk even as he walked," and "as he is, so are they in this world."

A certain writer speaks thus of the beauties of Christian character: "Live as we may, age dims the l.u.s.ter of the eye, and pales the flush of the cheek, while infirmity mars the human form divine. But while this is true, dim as the eye is, pallid and sunken as may be the face of beauty, frail and feeble that once strong, erect and symmetrical form, the immortal soul, just fledging its wings for heaven, may look out through those faded windows, as beautiful as a dewdrop on a summer's morning, as melting as the tears that glisten in affection's eye, by growing kindly, by cultivating sympathy with all mankind, by cheris.h.i.+ng forbearance toward the follies and fribbles of our race, and feeding day by day on that love of G.o.d and man which lifts us from the brute and makes us akin to angels."

Christian character is the same whether it be in Christians or in Christ.

The character of the Savior is also the character of those in whom he dwells. Their nature is the same, and their outward life is the same. This is what is meant when it is said: "We should walk even as he walked." For the clear proof of these few a.s.sertions we will arrange in parallel columns a few texts of Scripture describing the character of Jesus and a few describing the character of Christians, and we will find that not anything more is said of the Savior with respect to a holy life than is said of his devoted followers.

Character Of Christ. Character Of Christians.

Lovely.

"His mouth is most sweet: yea, he "Behold, thou art fair, my love; is altogether lovely." S. of Sol. behold, thou art fair; ... thou art 5:16. all fair, my love; there is no spot in thee." S. of Sol. 4:1, 7.

Lowly.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn "Better it is to be of a humble of me; for I am meek and lowly in spirit with the lowly, than to heart." Mat. 11:29. divide the spoil with the proud."

Prov. 16:19.

Obedient.

"For as by one man's disobedience "Wherefore gird up the loins of many were made sinners, so by the your mind, be sober, and hope to obedience of one shall many be made the end for the grace that is to be righteous." Rom. 5:19. brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children." 1 Pet 1:13, 14.

Compa.s.sionate.

"But when he saw the mult.i.tudes, he "Finally, be ye all of one mind, was moved with compa.s.sion on them, having compa.s.sion one of another, because they fainted and were love as brethren, be pitiful, be scattered abroad as sheep having no courteous." 1 Pet. 3:8.

shepherd." Mat. 9:36.

Faithfulness.

"Faithful is he that calleth you, "And the things that thou hast who also will do it." 1 Thes. 5:24. heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." 2 Tim. 2:2.

Forbearance.

"Whom G.o.d hath set forth to be a "Forbearing one another, and propitiation through faith in his forgiving one another." Col. 3:13.

blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of G.o.d." Rom. 3:25.

Meekness.

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn "But let it be the hidden man of of me; for I am meek and lowly in the heart, in that which is not heart." Mat. 11:29. corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of G.o.d of great price." 1 Pet. 3:4.

Long-Suffering.

"And account that the "With all lowliness and meekness, long-suffering of our Lord is with long-suffering, forbearing one salvation." 2 Pet. 3:15. another in love." Eph. 4:2.

Humbleness.

"And being found in fas.h.i.+on as a "Likewise, ye younger, submit man, he humbled himself, and became yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all obedient unto death, even the death of you be subject one to another, of the cross." Phil 2:8. and be clothed with humility: for G.o.d resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." 1 Pet. 5:5.

Spotlessness.

"But with the precious blood of "Pure religion and undefiled before Christ, as of a lamb without G.o.d and the Father is this, To blemish and without spot." 1 Pet. visit the fatherless and widows in 1:19. their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Jas. 1:27.

Mercifulness.

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, "Blessed are the merciful: for they slow to anger, and plenteous in shall obtain mercy." Mat. 5:7.

mercy." Psa. 103:8.

Harmlessness.

"For such an high priest became us, "That ye may be blameless and who is holy, harmless, undefiled, harmless, the sons of G.o.d, without separate from sinners, and made rebuke, in the midst of a crooked higher than the heavens." Heb. and perverse nation, among whom ye 7:26. s.h.i.+ne as lights in the world."

Phil. 2:15.

Guilelessness.

"Who did no sin, neither was guile "Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, found in his mouth." 1 Pet. 2:22. and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" John 1:47.

Sinlessness.