WHO ARE REAL CHRISTIANS?
- Matt.
7:21-29.-February 28. -
Golden Text:-“Be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only.”-James 1:22
FOLLOWING our
Lord’s course, we reach in this lesson a more particular stage in his work.
After the ex-ample of Peter, Andrew, James and John, others became disciples or
followers of the Lord, until we may presume that his company was of
considerable numbers. It was about this time that, after prayer in solitude in
the mountain, our Lord made choice of the twelve who should be his special
representatives or apostles; and whether it was before or after this selection
from amongst the other disciples or followers that he gave the Sermon on the
Mount, we may not be too positive, but evidently the two events occurred about
the same time.
Our lesson is really a portion of the Sermon on the Mount-a conclusion to
it. Supplementing Matthew’s statement with that of Luke 6:43-49, we find that
our Lord gave several illustrations of true discipleship at this time: (1) The
straight gate and narrow way by which any might become his disciples; (2) the
fruit-bearing test of being his disciples; (3) the difference between words and
deeds in the Lord’s estimation; (4) the vital results as illustrated by the two
buildings, the one on the sand and the other on the rock.
THESE TESTS IGNORED BY CHURCHIANITY.
In our day, when the public teachings of the ministry of nearly all
denominations is so different from the teach-ing of the Scriptures, we believe
that the degeneracy of faith and practice would be much more rapid than it is
were it not that very many feel it a duty to read a portion of the Scriptures
daily, even though they think little about their meaning. In such readings
lessons like the one we are now considering occasionally present themselves;
and the lines of true discipleship are here so distinctly drawn, that the mere
nominal professor is made to shudder while the true Christian is profited in
proportion as he deter-mines by the grace of God he will seek to so conform his
life that he may become more and more a copy of God’s dear Son.
The general thought of today in the pulpits and in pri-vate conversation
and at funerals seems to be that in civil-ized lands everybody is a Christian
and sure to go to heaven eventually, except such persons as are moral
repro-bates-such as are to be found in penitentiaries and pris-ons-and even for
them hope is entertained that ere they die they may express some regret for
their misdeeds. Such regrets are seized upon by their friends as evidence that
they have become Christians, and gone to heaven too.
FALSE DOCTRINE IS CHARGEABLE
FOR THIS.
While condemning the foregoing as wholly wrong, we nevertheless sympathize
with those whose confusion of thought is thus manifested. Their unscriptural
views of what constitutes a Christian is the result of two things: (1)
Teachings of the dark ages handed down through the creeds of Christendom from
the “mother of harlots” to her “daughters”-creeds inspired by the teachings of
those who, in centuries gone by, persecuted one another to the death for
differences of opinions on doctrinal subjects -tortured one another with rack
and sword and fagot. (2) To this bad foundation of error there has come within
re-cent years a larger spirit of enlightenment and generosity in which we
rejoice. But the two qualities-the errors of the past and the generosity of
the present-produce a very bad combination of doctrine for modern
Churchianity-a doctrine which seeks to be reasonable with itself, and which, in
so doing, runs counter to a great many teachings of Scripture. The present
lesson is an illustration of this.
From the standpoint of orthodox Churchianity and its teaching of eternal
torture for all except those who become Christian, our Lord’s words in this
lesson seem very un-reasonable, very unsatisfactory, very heart-rending. From
their standpoint a strict application of this lesson would mean not only that
the heathen world is without hope in the future, but also the civilized world
and the vast ma-jority of those called Christians have nothing to expect in the
future except tribulation-eternal torment, because re-jected of the Lord and
not recognized as Christians, not recognized as members of his Kingdom, his Body,
of his Church.
THE TRUTH ALONE IS CONSISTENT.
It is only when we get rid of the smoke and darkness and confusion of
Babylon and the dark ages and their creeds, and get back to the pure,
unadulterated words of the Lord and apostles and prophets, and by the grace of
God are granted some opening of the eyes of our under-standing, only then can
we see these matters in their true light. Our Lord’s discourses continually
reiterated that he was seeking for some who should be counted worthy to
constitute his Kingdom, to sit with him in his throne, to be his joint-heirs,
to rule and to judge Israel and all the nations of the world. Not until we
learn to differentiate between the Church, his Bride, the members of his Body,
the Kingdom class, and the world that is to be judged or ruled by this Kingdom
class in due time, can we get a clear conception of the divine purposes
progressing throughout this Gospel age.
From this standpoint we can see most clearly why none can be of the
Kingdom class unless they shall develop faith and character above and beyond
that of the world in general. We can see why these should be called upon to
bear the good fruits; we can see why they must walk the narrow way of
self-denial, self-sacrifice and character de-velopment in order to be fitted
and prepared for the great work the Lord has for them to do for the world in
the coming age-in the Millennium. It seems to be pecu-liarly difficult for the
majority of people long blinded by false doctrines to see that the heavenly
Father has
SPECIAL TIMES AND SEASONS FOR THE VARIOUS DEVELOP-MENTS OF HIS WORK.
The world is getting a certain kind of experiences in the present time
which will be valuable to it in the future-when God’s due time shall come for
blessing all the families of the earth to be on trial for life or death
ever-lasting. Meantime, with those present experiences come the disciplines of
the laws of nature-under which poverty, sickness and mental and moral derangement
follow ex-cesses of evil doing as pain follows contact with fire. And it is
not an unreasonable hope that with the lessons of the present time before them,
the world during the Mil-lennial age will act more wisely than at present; that
under the favorable conditions prevailing then many will not only rejoice in
the great plan of salvation, but will avail themselves of it-many who are now
careless in such mat-ters, partly because they cannot see or walk by faith.
It is when we realize that the present time is one for schooling,
discipline, chastening, proving the characters of those who hear and accept the
divine invitation, that we see the reasonableness of all the restrictions and
require-ments attaching to such special discipleship. No longer do we wonder
that our dear Redeemer said, “Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that
leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it”; no longer do
we wonder that it is recorded that he spake in parables and dark sayings to the
intent that the majority should not understand his message-to the intent that
only Israelites indeed might appreciate and accept his call. No longer do we
wonder that he declared that only those who would forsake all could be-come his
disciples; no longer do we wonder that disciple-ship means self-sacrifice even
unto death. Now we see that our heavenly Father could make no easier terms
than these in connection with the peculiar high calling to joint heirship with
his Son in the Kingdom to which he is now calling a little flock.
“NOT EVERY ONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME, LORD, LORD, SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF
HEAVEN.”
The point of this lesson is specially for those who have named the name of
Christ, and who are professing to be his disciples. It is not enough that we
profess disciple-ship; unless the matter goes deeper than this we will be
rejected. Our professions of discipleship must be sincere, and the Lord
knoweth the heart and will. Although he will judge us leniently so far as
unwilling and unintention-al weaknesses and imperfections are concerned, he
will judge us most strictly in respect to our purposes, the inten-tions of our
hearts. Our Lord is not here referring to the Church in her present condition
as the embryo Kingdom: he refers to the glorified, actual Kingdom to be estab-lished
at his Second Advent. His faithful will enter into that Kingdom by the
resurrection change-by participa-tion in the First Resurrection, which is to
include only the blessed and holy.-Rev. 20:5, 6.
While the Lord’s people of the present age are
not to be judged by their works but by their faith, as the Apostle Paul
distinctly points out, saying, “By the deeds of the Law shall no flesh be
justified in God’s sight,” but we are justified by faith, nevertheless, works will be required. By our works we must
demonstrate our faith, and, thank God, imperfect works can demonstrate to him
the loyalty of our intentions, our wills. Hence the Apostle James says,
“I will show thee my faith by my works,” and to this all the Scriptures agree.
If our works demonstrate to the Lord the sincerity of
our faith, that faith will be acceptable to him and we will be counted perfect
and be granted a share in the Kingdom, great and precious things which the Lord
has in reservation for those who love him-not merely in word but also in
deeds-for those who strive by the deeds of life to show forth, to demonstrate,
their love.
The Lord carries this illustration to a considerable length,
showing that he does not merely refer to people who are nominally called
Christians en masse. From the Lord’s standpoint the great majority of
these would be merely classed as Gentiles; because they have never en-tered
into any covenant relationship with God. The ref-erence in this passage is
evidently to those who have out-wardly made a consecration of themselves to the
Lord -to those who have outwardly professed a change of heart and vital
relationship to the Lord. More than this, he includes not only a few, but
“many,” who in their out-ward course of life have in some measure acknowledged
the Lord publicly and as here expressed.
“IN THY NAME HAVE CAST OUT DEVILS, DONE MANY AND WONDERFUL WORKS.”
This represents a class claiming relationship to the Lord and public
ministry in his name-far above the ordi-nary masses of Churchianity. Our Lord
declares that un-less our consecration shall lead us to more than miracle
working and calling ourselves Christian, and preaching to others in the Lord’s
name, it shall profit us nothing. In order to have his approval “in that day”
it will be neces-sary that we shall develop characters in conformity with the
Father’s will-in conformity to the Lord’s Word. Nothing but character will
stand the final tests.
All about us in so-called Christian lands we see and hear many in public
prayer and hymns of praise call re-peatedly Lord, Lord, yet whose conduct, so
far as we can see, bears no good fruit, but rather evil fruitage. Many of them
are like the thorns and briars to which the Lord likened them. They reach out
with helping hands to lift man up, to bless and to ennoble, but the thorns and
briars tear and do injury. We live in a day when little of this injury is done
physically, because the laws of civilization would take cognizance of such evil
deeds and punish the evil doers. Nevertheless, the thorny and briary people
find abundant opportunity for injuring others with their lips, with their
tongues. Slan-dering, backbiting, malice, hatred, envy, strife, proceed from
them because this is their nature. These bramble and thorn bushes may indeed tie
on clusters of grapes and figs to deceive, but the thorny and brambly
charac-ter will be sure to manifest itself to those who come near them in the
contact of daily life.
No wonder that our Lord determines that such are unfit for a share with
him in his Kingdom and its great work of judging and blessing the world of
mankind. How could busybodies and backbiters and slanderers be fit for the
Kingdom of God’s dear Son? Saying, Lord, Lord, or performing some miracle in
his name, does not warrant them in expecting the great blessings which the Lord
has in reservation for those who love him and who in turn are controlled by the
spirit of love toward him and toward all the household of faith.
OUR FAITH STRUCTURE
MUST HAVE PROPER FOUNDATIONS.
We are aware that in our day the confused and con-fusing doctrines handed
down from the dark ages have be-come so obnoxious to reasoning people that they
are in-clined to say, Away with doctrines! it matters not what a man believes;
it matters everything what he does. We sympathize with those who hold this
sentiment, al-though we cannot at all agree with it. We hold to the contrary
that doctrine is all important both to faith and works. If it were not so the
Lord would not have given his doctrines so important a place in his teachings
and in his parables as in the one now under consideration. No man can build a
proper life unless he have some founda-tion, some doctrine, some faith. A man
with no faith, no hope, is sure to be correspondingly lacking in charac-ter. We
believe that the important thing is that we should have a proper foundation, a
proper faith, a proper doctrine upon which to build character and good works.
Our Lord’s illustration shows the possibility of build-ing upon two kinds
of foundation-a worthy and unworthy sort. But let us notice before we go
further that this par-able does not represent the heathen in any sense of the
word, nor does it represent any who, living in civilized lands, have the eyes
of their understanding so beclouded by ignorance and superstition, and their
ears so dulled by the god of this world, that they do not hear distinctly the
Lord’s message. The parable is addressed to him “that heareth these sayings of
mine”-who understands my teaching. The heathen have no place under this
designa-tion, neither have the great majority of those who profess
Churchianity.
The parable then most clearly finds its two classes in those who have
heard the good tidings and who have re-ceived them who outwardly have made
consecration to the Lord, and who outwardly are building their hopes upon his
promises. The hopes built upon the Lord’s
promises and unaccompanied by works are hopes built upon the sand. It is
only a question of time until the great testing time shall come and such hopes will
be shown to be worse than useless. They will be shown to have deceived their
possessor, who thought himself safe in his assurances of a share in the
Kingdom. Such hopes, such faith, as fail to obediently strive to do the
Lord’s will, such faith and hopes as consider that obedience is not essential
to a place in the Kingdom, are falsely founded; their overthrow will come with
great disaster.
On the contrary, those who build with obedience,
their hearts as well as their tongues confessing and honoring the Lord, their
deeds corroborating their faith, and their fruits bearing testimony of their
vital relationship with the Lord-these shall pass through all the storms of
life and shall never be moved, never be shaken, because they are on the
foundation. No wonder that his hearers thought that our Lord’s
teachings were different from those of the scribes and Pharisees. There was
a positiveness in his teaching not to be found elsewhere. And so it is today:
the Word of the Lord is reasonable, logical and satisfying in a man-ner and to
a degree that nothing else is.
“SAVED SO AS BY FIRE.”
The Apostle Paul (I Cor. 3:10-15) uses this same illus-tration in a slightly
different manner. His illustration shows only those who are built upon
the rock, Christ Je-sus, but shows that two classes are building upon the rock
and that while all such builders will be eventually saved, gain everlasting
life, there will be nevertheless two classes of them-some saved abundantly in
the Kingdom and oth-ers “saved so as by fire”-by passing through great
tribu-lation. The Apostle’s explanation is equally possible, whether we
apply the gold, silver, and precious stones of the proper building to true
doctrines, in contrast with the wood, hay and stubble to false doctrines, or
whether we apply these symbols of gold, silver and precious stones as
signifying character development, the results of sound doc-trine, and the wood,
hay and stubble the deficiency of character development.
The general tenor of all these lessons is that all those who think worth
while to be on the Lord’s side at all in this present age will do wisely if,
after counting the cost, they completely lay aside not only their besetting
sins but their ambition and their hope and every desire of an earthly kind-that
their entire interests may be devoted to the Lord, to knowing his will, to
serving him. These are they who really love the Lord more than they love houses
or lands or father or mother or children or self; these are the Lord’s Jewels,
who shall be joint-heirs with him in the Kingdom and in the great work of
blessing all the families of the earth in due time. “They shall be mine, saith
the Lord, in that day when I make up my jewels.”