He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin’
This has no ground in scripture. ‘He hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin’ (2 Cor 5:21). It is terrible to confuse the most wonderful, act of love of that blessed One – the sufferings and death of Christ, His bearing God’s wrath, His His soul Made an offering for sin, with any thought of His proving Himself sinless during His life on earth. Good men, such as the editor of the Christian Examiner (maybe the Unitarian James Walker – 1794-1874) often carried rationalist views.
This is a addition itemof a paper by John Nelson Darby.
The Pauline Doctrine of the Righteousness of Faith
Many reformers, puritans and theologians seem to believe that Christ makes up for our defects, in effect saying that Christ kept the law for us. But the WORD OF GOD is clear, and tells me that if we are justified by law we are fallen from grace (see Gal 5:4). If Christ kept the law for us, and righteousness imputed to us because of that, we are justified by law. Of course the Lord kept the law, but where in scripture do we find that He kept it for us? According to the WORD OF GOD this doctrine is FALSE, it is legal fiction.
In 1862 J N Darby wrote to the Christian Examiner about an article in the British and Foreign Evangelical Review. Teaching which was very prevalent in the established churches was that the Lord had fulfilled the law on our behalf. Looking at various current sermons and writings on the internet, it would appear that this error is still held by many.
The Truth is needed to keep souls in progress and subjection to God. Scripture, the WORD OF GOD, must have its authority. The Holy Spirit, the Comforter, forms the unity of Christ’s body on earth and dwells in the believer. The Lord is about to take the saints to Himself, and then appear with them, his Church, to judge the world and reign for 1000 years. These teachings will protect us from some of the unscriptural and erroneous doctrine that abounds in Christendom – in Romanism, Protestantism and even amongst evangelicals.
What is Righteousness, and what was the Law?
Righteousness is living as we ought and fulfilling our relationships rightly towards others and towards God. When it says, ‘The righteous Lord loveth righteousness’ (Psalm 11:7) or, ‘Grace might reign through righteousness’ (Rom 5:21) the word is used abstractedly; when it says, ‘the righteousness of God’ or ‘the righteousness of faith’ (Rom 10:3,6), the expression is more specific. We ought to love God with all our heart; we ought to love our neighbour as ourselves. That is the law in its clearest terms. It would also have been our righteousness had we kept it. But as sinners, we did not, nor could not keep the law. And since we have a conscience, the sense of good and evil we know we are guilty, unrighteous and lawless.
Did the Lord keep the Law for us?
My righteousness under the law is absolutely zero. In God’s sight, my efforts are evil and nothing else. Therefore Christ died for me. I am born again, and I receive Him as eternal life. Does Christ make up for defects in my righteousness? What defects? Is my righteousness patched up by Christ’s acts, when I have acted after the flesh? Is that what is meant by Christ being made unto us righteousness? Of course not.
Many reformers, puritans and theologians seem to believe this, in effect saying that Christ kept the law for us. But the WORD OF GOD is clear, and tells me that if we are justified by law we are fallen from grace (see Gal 5:4). If Christ kept the law for us, and righteousness imputed to us because of that, we are justified by law. Of course the Lord kept the law, but where in scripture do we find that He kept it for us? According to the WORD OF GOD this doctrine is FALSE, it is legal fiction.
We are accounted, imputed or reckoned (the same word in Greek λογισθῆναι/ logisthēnai/Strong 3049) righteous (See Rom 4:11). Christ has born the sin of each of us, and put it away. This is no fiction: sin has been dealt with.
Applying the Law to a Child of Adam
Those going on with this error pretend that the defects of the old man are somehow made good, so that man, a child of Adam, might appear righteousness before God. He ought to walk in accordance with the law and according to this doctrine, when we fail Christ makes our defects good. That is not Christianity.
This false doctrine leads to an absurdity. It confuses practical sanctification, with righteousness before God. It makes Christ establish our standing as alive before God in the old man.
The truth is that the life which we receive is Christ. This does not make my flesh good. As a child of Adam, there is no good in me. Christ died to put away my sin, so I reckon myself dead, my flesh condemned. I find myself in Christ, Christ being in me. I have put on the new man, and that is what I am before God. In that Christ died, He died unto sin once; in that He lives, He lives unto God (See Rom 6:10). ‘I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me’ (Gal 2:19-20). I am dead to law by the body of Christ (See Rom 7:4).
What Sort of Law or Righteousness?
These people measure the righteousness of God and divine justice by the law. But they contradict themselves. On one side righteousness is said to be of the law, but at the same time righteousness is a gift’ (See Rom 5:17).
It is nonsense to say that we are living by a personal law. Indeed they even talk about a person redeeming him/herself. Grace, not law, is towards a sinner. Law does not forgive, it condemns. Satan’s deception is to set aside Christ’s death. He died that we might live, our sin being atoned for by Him.
They might cite James. But James merely said ‘faith without works is dead’ (James 2:20). That cannot be as a result of Christs’s law-keeping.
Legal Righteousness
Some would give the impression of a God who is incensed (or vengeful or full of wrath) at our disobeying the law, but at the same time, a God who acts in grace rather than judgment. This is the doctrine of legal righteousness. This might appear plausible, but it destroys the thought of a righteous God who reconciles us to Himself and justifies us. God is just in justifying. his is the essence of the gospel.
We know who bore the wrath for us. Let us never forget the cross, the cup that Jesus had to drink, His sweat in Gethsemane, His being made sin, and crying ‘My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Mark 15:34). He was perfectly obedient.
Conclusion
But how can we have righteousness? We need a new righteousness, by faith, fit for the throne of God. If we are to be accepted, the righteousness must meet all that God is His own infinite excellency.
Christ revealed God’s nature, and glorified Him when He was made sin for us. Hence we are made the righteousness of God in Him. Christ finished the work His Father gave Him to do. Now the ground of our acceptance and righteousness, is complete. Christ becomes our life.
The blood of the unblemished heifer, represents Christ who knew no sin. The blood was sprinkled before the tabernacle (the place of communion) seven times. But the body of the heifer was reduced to ashes. This shows that we still have to understand the seriousness of sin, and what the Lord had to bear.
In Numbers 19 we learn about being free of defilement. We are in the world but not of it – we belong in the sanctuary. If we come into contact with evil, a remedy is required, otherwise communion will be hindered.
The blood of the unblemished heifer, represents Christ who knew no sin. The blood was sprinkled before the tabernacle (the place of communion) seven times. But the body of the heifer was reduced to ashes. This shows that we still have to understand the seriousness of sin, and what the Lord had to bear.
The person who had been defiled had to wait seven days for communion to be restored fully. He had to gather up the ashes – making him realise the horror of sin. In grace we get a sense of God’s perfect holiness that necessitated the sacrifice. We had been careless, and found ourselves outside of God’s presence. Now communion was restored.
The idea of a church transcending dispensations is false. There was no collective expression of faith until the establishment of the Jewish nation, and persons were in that by birth and not faith. It was not faith that united the Jews, it was their descent from Jacob. Now we see this idea being introduced into Christianity, Salvation is not the Church, nor the Church salvation.
An expression that was current in Mr Darby’s time was ‘Jewish church’. I googled the expression, and the only relevant information was on Jews in the church. So whilst the error is not widespread now (except in the way that public Christianity has been judaised), a short paraphrase of part of Darby’s paper on ‘Law’ would be useful.
Start with the truth. The Church, the body of believers, never existed till the Holy Spirit came forty days after Christ’s ascension. It could not exist till its Head, had been exalted as Man having accomplished redemption. When exalted, God ‘gave Him to be Head over all things to the Church, the fulness of Him who filleth all in all’. (Eph 1:22-23.) He has made both [Jew and gentile] into one new man, a habitation of God in the Spirit (see Eph 2:14-22). Only now is the church known to the principalities and powers [i.e. angels][*] and they see the manifold wisdom of God. Before then, men were not built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit. The entity did not exist.
The idea of a church transcending dispensations is false. There was no collective expression of faith until the establishment of the Jewish nation, and persons were in that by birth and not faith. It was not faith that united the Jews, it was their descent from Jacob. Physical circumcision was the witness to a (male) person’s position. Now we see this idea being introduced into Christianity, with baptism replacing circumcision. Salvation is not the Church, nor the Church salvation. Conscience, faith and consequently salvation and sonship are all individual. The church is formed of those who have been saved, those with faith. They are baptised by one Spirit into one body. ‘The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved’ (Acts 2:47). That is how the church started.
The establishment of a human priesthood, as a class distinct from all other Christians, is a denial of the truth of Christianity. According to the New Testament, all Christians are priests: they offer prayer and praise to God
The establishment of a human priesthood, as a class distinct from all other Christians, is a denial of the truth of Christianity. According to the New Testament, all Christians are priests: they offer prayer and praise to God..
In the New Testament we have:
Jewish priests
The pagan priest of Jupiter
Melchisedec (contemporary with Abraham)
Christ Himself as the Great High Priest
There are absolutely no references to certain Christians having the distinction of being priests. Rather all Christians are priests. A distinct class of priests among Christians on earth is totally foreign to the New Testament. All Christians belong to a holy and royal priesthood – anything else is false and unscriptural.
See the following scriptures:
Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5)
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light (1 Peter 2:9)
Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us kings and priests to God and his Father (Rev 1:5-6)
By him [Jesus] therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving praise to his name (Heb 13:15) [The word ‘priest’ is not used here, but only priests offer sacrifices].
Christ is the Great High Priest; all Christians are priests. In the old system priests offered gifts and sacrifices for sins on behalf of the people who were not allowed to approach the altar and do so. This was, of course, before Christ’s own sacrifice on the cross. Christianity is founded on the perfect sacrifice of Christ, the value and efficacy of which are eternal. Hebrews emphasises that, as Christ’s work was once and for all, there cannot remain any further sacrifice for sins (see Heb 10:26).
In the Jewish tabernacle there were two veils. Common people could enter neither. Priests could enter the first to offer incense, but the veil into the Holy of Holies, the high priest entered alone once a year, with the blood of propitiation to put upon the mercy seat. Thus God was hidden within the veil. The ordinary worshipper could not approach God directly to offer his gifts or sacrifices. The priest received the them, and he offered them. God dwelt in thick darkness.
Christianity is the complete opposite of all this. The veil was rent from the top to the bottom (see Mark 15:38); God has revealed Himself. Instead of our not being able to approach God, God has approached us. This even applied to the chief of sinners (Paul). Now,
The grace of God which bringeth salvation hath appeared. (Titus 2:11)
The darkness is past, and the true light now shineth (1 John 2:8).
God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not imputing their trespasses to them. (2 Cor 5:19)
The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
In him [Christ] was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4).
God hath given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life (1 John 5:12).
By this we deduce that, when a Christian assumes the exclusive authority to conduct a communion service or mass, he is hanging on to the old Jewish order. He is, in effect, saying, that the ordinary person cannot approach personally, but must get an ordained church officer to approach for him. This is a denial of the whole efficacy of Christianity, and the place in which all Christians are set.
But the light of God has shone forth, and it is for me to walk in the light as he [God] is in the light (1 John 1:7). I approach through the blood of Christ, the light showing me that I am perfectly clean. If I require another go into Gods presence on my behalf, I must not be regarding myself as clean. But I am clean, because of Christ’s work. I am therefore a priest, and am to offer praise, thanks and worship to God myself. And I can do it at any time.
People speak about a ‘moral law’, but they have only a vague idea of what is meant by the expression. They say, ‘Live by the ten commandments’ or, ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Matt 7:12 NIV). They quote scripture, but in so doing put themselves and others under bondage. That is not Christianity. The Christian has been delivered from the law.
There are expressions which are used by Christians, which as well as being unscriptural, convey a meaning which is also contrary to the truth as presented in scripture. One of these is ‘moral law’.
People speak about a ‘moral law’, but they have only a vague idea of what is meant by the expression. They say, ‘Live by the ten commandments’ or, ‘Do to others what you would have them do to you’ (Matt 7:12 NIV). They quote scripture, but in so doing put themselves and others under bondage. That is not Christianity. The Christian has been delivered from the law.
Christians under a so-called ‘moral law’ have set aside Paul’s teaching. They show a semblance of piety, but are effectively seeking to be justified by works. Even if the works were good ones, they are under a curse. (see Gal 3:10). A Christian, being of a fallen race, finds himself ruined by the law, deceived by it to his own sorrow. The law knows no mercy. He is spiritually dead.
Paul found that experimentally. Paul saw that the law condemned lust. So, because he lusted he was self-condemned. Lust was in his nature. The law claimed absolute obedience to God, but he found he did not have the power to keep it. He wanted to do what was right but couldn’t. In short, he coveted, and thus broke the law. What was ordained to life, he found to be to death (see Rom 7:10).
Christ and the Law
God gave the promise to Abraham. The law was given later. If the law could have given life, righteousness could have been by the law. But the law did not give either the motive or the power to do right. That is why in Galatians the law is treated as a schoolmaster. The law condemns sins. More than that, it condemns sin.
In Romans 7 Paul insisted that one cannot have two husbands at the same time. A Christian cannot cannot be under obligation to both Christ and the law. A Christian is ‘dead to the law by the body of Christ’ (Rom 7:4). If he (or she) is dead, he is no longer under the law. , ‘Sin shall not have dominion over you, because ye are not under the law, but under grace’ (Rom 6:14).
Somebody might say, ‘Yes; but the flesh is still there, so I need the law, not to put away sin, but that it might not have dominion.’ That is false – The Christian is to be consciously dead in Christ. If a person is dead, he is beyond the reach of law by death. The Christian has died with Christ and is resurrection: he is in newness of life – in Christ, not Adam.
I am ‘dead to the law by the body of Christ’ (Rom 7:4). The death that the law sentenced me to in my conscience has fallen on another — Christ. Otherwise I would have been left in everlasting misery. But in love Christ put Himself in my place. Now I am justified and have a right to reckon myself dead, because Christ has died and has risen again. I have received Him into my heart as life: He is really my life.
Godliness is walking with a risen Christ – that is Christian life. The measure of that walk is Christ, and nothing else.
The Divine Law
A true believer always holds difference between right and wrong, to be an immovable and fixed moral foundation. It is revealed by God in His word.
The Lord said ‘Keep my commandments’ (John 15:10) and John wrote ‘This is love, that we keep His commandments’ (1 John 5:2) . Some are afraid of the word ‘commandment’, as if it would weaken the ideas of love, grace and new creation. But keeping the commandments and obeying one we love is the proof of our love. Christ Himself said, ‘I love the Father, and as the Father hath given me commandment, so I do.’ (John 14:31). His highest act of love, in dying for us on the cross, was His highest act of obedience.
The Spirit will produce fruits against which there is no law.
‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law’ (Gal 5:22-23.
‘Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love’ (Eph 5:1-2 Darby).
‘Put on therefore, as [the] elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of compassion, kindness, lowliness, meekness, longsuffering; forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any should have a complaint against any; even as the Christ has forgiven you, so also do ye. And to all these add love, which is the bond of perfectness’ (Col 3:12-14 Darby).
A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. (John 13:34)
The gift – a well of living water – the Holy Spirit
The Giver – Christ.
It is not a pool, which, even if full now, can dry up. It is a fountain which can never dry up. The believer has it in himself, and he has for ever. But first the believer must first get to know the Giver.
This was the first of series of thirteen preachings. Unlike his wrigins, the preachings are much easier to follow – so – if you have time, read the original.
Three chapters in John’s gospel speak of the effects and operations of the Spirit of God.
John 3: New birth – the power and efficacy of the Holy Spirit in giving life
John 4: The Well – a well of water springing up into everlasting life
John 7: Rivers of living water – the internal effect of the indwelling Spirit
The Lord Jesus Christ is the giver of the Holy Spirit to them that believe. As sinners, we have no relationship with God – that relationship had been lost forever. However, because of Christ’s sacrifice and intercession, it has been restored for the believer. All our blessings are through Him. He died for our sins, and rose again. He was made ‘sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’ (2 Cor 5:21). The knowledge of God’s righteousness is by the Spirit. Knowing it we can share in God’s happiness, having fellowship with the Father and unhindered communion with God. This is the gift of God: there is no other way
The Pharisees were jealous because Jesus was making more disciples than John. In order to follow peace with all men, Jesus left Judea for Galilee, passing through Samaria on the way. It had been a long journey and He was weary, so He sat down by a well to recover His strength. It was not just that journey, He had left His home of glory and of blessedness, and come down to this weary, sinful world. There everything around would make Him weary – sin, hatred, ingratitude, ill-will, open opposition, and toil. However, He was never weary of love.
So what do we find? The Lord of glory, the Son of the Eternal God, sitting alone with a wicked sinner by a well, asking her for a drink of cold water – the humblest request possible. He was to settle the great question of eternity with her, showing her what she was herself, and telling her who He was. In love the Lord is still humbly asking people for a drink – that is, to be reconciled – ‘We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God’ (2 Cor 5:20).
Among the Jews it was considered obnoxious to have anything to do with the Samaritans, let alone to be beholden to them for a favour. Despite what the woman asked, the Lord did not enter into argument about the prejudices of the Jews, but focused instead on her salvation. So He says, ‘If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith unto thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water’ (v. 10). Her carnal mind could not take that in, it just did not mean anything to her, and it does not mean anything to people now: divine things appear stupid and valueless. Nor did she know the Giver. She said, ‘Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?’ (v. 11).
So what is this gift, and the Giver?
The gift – a well of living water – the Holy Spirit
The Giver – Christ.
It is not a pool, which, even if full now, can dry up. It is a fountain which can never dry up. The believer has it in himself, and he has for ever. But first the believer must first get to know the Giver.
The woman was occupied with her worldly duties and pursuits, and could not rise to anything higher. Satan uses these mundane things (even a waterpot) to keep souls from Christ. Dear reader, is there any waterpot which is keeping you from knowing Christ, and seeing His great salvation? It may be harmless, innocent or even praiseworthy – your family, your job or your pastimes.
Now, all of a sudden, the woman realised that there was something in what the Lord had been saying. She said, ‘Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw’ (v.15). Though she was still thinking naturally, and may even been sceptical, the Lord persevered with her in love. The Lord is always patient: He never gets weary when it comes to souls. He says ‘Go, call thy husband’, and follows this up with ‘Thou hast well said, I have no husband: for thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband’ (v. 16-18). In effect, He showed her that she did not realise the wretched, ruinous state she was in. Her conscience vibrated. In the presence of One who was acquainted with the hidden recesses of her heart, she was stripped of her self-disguise. She had never really believed that she was a sinner. Now she knew that she was, like the man who came into the assembly in 1 Cor 14:24, ‘He is convinced of all, he is judged of all; and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth.’
There was some discussion as to the Lord’s being a prophet, and the arguments as to where one should worship. The Lord bore with this. But she was in the process of leaving her waterpot and coming to know the Saviour. She even appeared to be looking forward to His (the Messiah’s) coming. The Spirit lead her to say, ‘I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ; when he is come, he will tell us all things’. Jesus’ reply, ‘I that speak unto thee am he’ (v. 25-26).
The woman had wanted water and had come with her waterpot. Now she had a well of water and had left her waterpot. Christ had revealed Himself to her soul; the Messiah’s glory was now her aim and end. She knew Him, not from hearsay but personally, and immediately she preached Him to others. ‘Come, see a man that told me all that ever I did: is not this the Christ’ (v. 29). A total revolution had taken place.
It is a process in which we are taken out of a former position, as strangers, even enemies, and are introduced to a new position, where we are brought near to God. We no longer have a worldly but a heavenly portion – Christ’s portion. The Spirit shows us that our new life is the life of Christ. In fact, we are in the same position as Christ Himself!
The world’s wealth, power and distinction now has little value to us. We find no wealth but in Christ; we find no power but by Christ; we have no distinction but from Christ. Our joy is full. We have a fresh spring, drawing from the Lord of glory, giving us fellowship with millions of others who have had the same experience with the Lord, and who have received the Holy Spirit.
Dear reader, how is it with your soul? Have you asked for the living water? Is there this well within you? Do you have it yourself, or you relying on others? – that will not do. Now, if you have it, what practical influence has it had? Are you separated from the world, and separated to God? Do you think about your high calling? – heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ! (See Rom 8:17) Are you imitating Him? He was ‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners’ (Heb 7:26). Are you?
Do you have this spring, this well of water? If not, you do not yet know the gift of God. if you have not got it in you, you’ve got nothing. Don’t deceive yourself, nothing else will do. When temptation, trial, or affliction comes, your pool will be dried up without any resource – a useless pool without a spring,
In this creation, man had the capability of voluntary thought, which put him into a position of responsibility. He could therefore obey or disobey. We know that he disobeyed, and the motivation was not the fruit, but ‘self’. The fall was total: man gave up God. In new creation it is different, man now has the knowledge of what God is, having been created ‘in righteousness and holiness of truth’ (Eph 4:24). We have a powerful, intimate relationship in communion with God, by the Holy Spirit. We have been redeemed.
In Genesis 1 God created man in His image. The Greek word used, according to Strong (1503) is εἰκών/eikṓn – a mirror-like, high-definition representation, very close in resemblance. The word is used for ‘statue’. See 1 Cor 11:7 , ‘a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God’ and other scriptures.
This is different from chapter 2 which concerns man’s relationship to God – like offspring (γένος/genos – Strong 1085) – see Acts 17:29 ‘we are the offspring of God’.
In this creation, man had the capability of voluntary thought, which put him into a position of responsibility. He could therefore obey or disobey. We know that he disobeyed, and the motivation was not the fruit, but ‘self’. The fall was total: man gave up God.
Christ, the second Adam, gave up any thought of His own will – He did not use His liberty or power for His will. He came to obey ‘Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.’( Heb 10:7 and Ps 40:7-8). He renounced self. In the midst of ruin, He bound the strong man, whereas in the place of blessing, Adam succumbed. He bore the abandonment, into which man had voluntarily run, to his eternal ruin.
In new creation it is different, man now has the knowledge of what God is, having been created ‘in righteousness and holiness of truth’ (Eph 4:24). We have a powerful, intimate relationship in communion with God, by the Holy Spirit. We have been redeemed. Because of the Lord’s perfect work of grace, we have been brought back, restored and reconciled to God. What a wondrous thing is redemption!
ublicly, the Church has fallen like all the rest. Grace will produce and perfect its own work. Christ’s building will be complete and perfect, and manifested in glory. But Man’s building is defective and corrupt, and will come under the worst and severest of judgments.
The Law
In Exodus 20, God gave Moses the law. Within days Israel had made a golden calf, breaking the first commandment. The stones were broken.
In a future day, when Christ comes to reign, the law will be written upon the heart of Israel (See Jer 31:33).
The Priesthood
In Leviticus 10, the priesthood failed, Nadab and Abihu offered strange fire. The result was that Aaron was forbidden to enter the sanctuary, except on the great day of atonement, and then not in his garments of glory and beauty.
On the other hand, Christ is now in glory as a merciful and faithful High Priest.
The Kingdom of Israel
Though wise, Solomon failed. He loved strange women, and the kingdom was divided. It was ultimately ended by Nebuchadnezzar.
However Christ, now in glory on His Father’s throne, will take the throne of David and reign over Jews and Gentiles.
The Church
The Church was established here called to glorify Christ. But evil workers (John called them antichrists) came and there was falling away. Paul prophesied that grievous, seductive wolves would come from within the church – they did. But Christ will come to be glorified in His saints and admired in all them that believe (1 Thess 1:10).
Publicly, the Church has fallen like all the rest. Grace will produce and perfect its own work. Christ’s building will be complete and perfect, and manifested in glory. But Man’s building is defective and corrupt, and will come under the worst and severest of judgments.
The expression ‘death to nature’ is not scriptural. ‘Death to the world’ is, and it is something that is seriously lacking amongst believers.
The expression ‘death to nature’ is not scriptural. ‘Death to the world’ is, and it is something that is seriously lacking amongst believers.
Natural relationships are of God, but it’s corruption is not. God created male and female, but Satan has spoiled normal relationships. God has given us these natural relationships to enjoy. Hence we do not neglect our bodies, which would be suggested by the thought of being dead to nature, which sets these relationships aside.
In Christ we have a relationship with Him and the Father, but we recognise that these relationships are not natural ones. We have died with Christ, and our life is hid with him. Hence we are dead to sin, and the rudiments of the world. Our old man is crucified with Christ. We are ‘dead to the law by the body of Christ’ (Romans 7:4).
Being dead to nature is quite unknown to Scripture, and falsifies the bearing of death to sin and the world. Death to nature is not devotedness: if I talk about being dead to nature, I am occupied with it. The thought of being dead to nature would It is legality and maintaining this is not of the Holy Spirit.
Christ is our life and He is not of the world. We have a new relationship with the Father, based Christ’s being in heaven. The Spirit of God is the source of all our thoughts in or desires for Christ to be our life. We eat, we drink, and we enjoy our relationships here. At the same time, we pray and give God thanks.
Three chapters in John’s gospel speak of the effects and operations of the Spirit of God.