CHAPTER 7
The Test of Discipleship
CHAPTER 7
"If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.
A person may not be able to tell the exact time
or place, or trace all the chain of circumstances in the process of
conversion; but this does not prove him to be unconverted. Christ said
to Nicodemus, "The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the
sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it
goeth: so is everyone that is born of the Spirit." John 3:8. Like the
wind, which is invisible, yet the effects of which are plainly seen and
felt, is the Spirit of God in its work upon the human heart. That
regenerating power, which no human eye can see, begets a new life in
the soul; it creates a new being in the image of God. While the work of
the Spirit is silent and imperceptible, its effects are manifest. If
the heart has been renewed by the Spirit of God, the life will bear
witness to the fact. While we cannot do anything to change our hearts
or to bring ourselves into harmony with God; while we must not trust at
all to ourselves or our good works, our lives will reveal whether the
grace of God is dwelling within us. A change will be seen in the
character, the habits, the pursuits. The contrast will be clear and
decided between what they have been and what they are. The character is
revealed, not by occasional good deeds and occasional misdeeds, but by
the tendency of the habitual words and acts.
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It is true that there may be an outward correctness of deportment
without the renewing power of Christ. The love of influence and the
desire for the esteem of others may produce a well-ordered
life. Self-respect may lead us to avoid the appearance of evil. A
selfish heart may perform generous actions. By what means, then, shall
we determine whose side we are on?
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Who has the heart? With whom are our thoughts? Of whom do we love to
converse? Who has our warmest affections and our best energies? If we
are Christ's, our thoughts are with Him, and our sweetest thoughts are
of Him. All we have and are is consecrated to Him. We long to bear His
image, breathe His spirit, do His will, and please Him in all things.
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Those who become new creatures in Christ Jesus will bring forth the
fruits of the Spirit, "love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance." Galatians 5:22, 23. They will
no longer fashion themselves according to the former lusts, but by the
faith of the Son of God they will follow in His steps, reflect His
character, and purify themselves even as He is pure. The things they
once hated they now love, and the things they once loved they hate. The
proud and self-assertive become meek and lowly in heart. The vain and
supercilious become serious and unobtrusive. The drunken become sober,
and the profligate pure. The vain customs and fashions of the world are
laid aside. Christians will seek not the "outward adorning," but "the
hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit." 1 Peter 3: 3, 4.
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There is no evidence of genuine repentance unless it works
reformation. If he restore the pledge, give again that he had robbed,
confess his sins, and love God and his fellow men, the sinner may be
sure that he has passed from death unto life.
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When, as erring, sinful beings, we come to Christ and become
partakers of His pardoning grace, love springs up in the heart. Every
burden is light, for the yoke that Christ imposes is easy. Duty becomes
a delight, and sacrifice a pleasure. The path that before seemed
shrouded in darkness, becomes bright with beams from the Sun of
Righteousness.
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The loveliness of the character of Christ will be seen in His
followers. It was His delight to do the will of God. Love to God, zeal
for His glory, was the controlling power in our Saviour's life. Love
beautified and ennobled all His actions. Love is of God. The
unconsecrated heart cannot originate or produce it. It is found only in
the heart where Jesus reigns. "We love, because He first loved us." 1
John 4:19, R.V. In the heart renewed by divine grace, love is the
principle of action. It modifies the character, governs the impulses,
controls the passions, subdues enmity, and ennobles the
affections. This love, cherished in the soul, sweetens the life and
sheds a refining influence on all around.
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There are two errors against which the children of God--particularly
those who have just come to trust in His grace--especially need to
guard. The first, already dwelt upon, is that of looking to their own
works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into
harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in
keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do
without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of
Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy.
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The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ
releases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we
become partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do
with our redemption.
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But notice here that obedience is not a mere outward compliance, but
the service of love. The law of God is an expression of His very
nature; it is an embodiment of the great principle of love, and hence
is the foundation of His government in heaven and earth. If our hearts
are renewed in the likeness of God, if the divine love is implanted in
the soul, will not the law of God be carried out in the life? When the
principle of love is implanted in the heart, when man is renewed after
the image of Him that created him, the new-covenant promise is
fulfilled, "I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds
will I write them." Hebrews 10:16. And if the law is written in the
heart, will it not shape the life? Obedience--the service and
allegiance of love--is the true sign of discipleship. Thus the
Scripture says, "This is the love of God, that we keep His
commandments." "He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." 1 John
5:3; 2:4. Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and
faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which
enables us to render obedience.
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We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free
gift of God, to be received by faith. But obedience is the fruit of
faith. "Ye know that He was manifested to take away our sins; and in
Him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth
hath not seen Him, neither known Him." 1 John 3:5, 6. Here is the true
test. If we abide in Christ, if the love of God dwells in us, our
feelings, our thoughts, our purposes, our actions, will be in harmony
with the will of God as expressed in the precepts of His holy
law. "Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth
righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous." 1 John
3:7. Righteousness is defined by the standard of God's holy law, as
expressed in the ten precepts given on Sinai.
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That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from
the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption. "By
grace are ye saved through faith." But "faith, if it hath not works, is
dead." Ephesians 2:8; James 2:17. Jesus said of Himself before He came
to earth, "I delight to do Thy will, O My God: yea, Thy law is within
My heart." Psalm 40:8. And just before He ascended again to heaven He
declared, "I have kept My Father's commandments, and abide in His
love." John 15:10. The Scripture says, "Hereby we do know that we know
Him, if we keep His commandments. ... He that saith he abideth in Him
ought himself also so to walk even as He walked." 1 John
2:3-6. "Because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example,
that ye should follow His steps." 1 Peter 2:21.
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The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has
been,--just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first
parents,--perfect obedience to the law of God, perfect
righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of
this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The
way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be
immortalized.
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It was possible for Adam, before the fall, to form a righteous
character by obedience to God's law. But he failed to do this, and
because of his sin our natures are fallen and we cannot make ourselves
righteous. Since we are sinful, unholy, we cannot perfectly obey the
holy law. We have no righteousness of our own with which to meet the
claims of the law of God. But Christ has made a way of escape for
us. He lived on earth amid trials and temptations such as we have to
meet. He lived a sinless life. He died for us, and now He offers to
take our sins and give us His righteousness. If you give yourself to
Him, and accept Him as your Saviour, then, sinful as your life may have
been, for His sake you are accounted righteous. Christ's character
stands in place of your character, and you are accepted before God just
as if you had not sinned.
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More than this, Christ changes the heart. He abides in your heart by
faith. You are to maintain this connection with Christ by faith and the
continual surrender of your will to Him; and so long as you do this, He
will work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. So
you may say, "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." Galatians 2:20. So Jesus said to His disciples, "It is not ye that
speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you." Matthew
10:20. Then with Christ working in you, you will manifest the same
spirit and do the same good works --works of righteousness,
obedience.
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So we have nothing in ourselves of which to boast. We have no ground
for self-exaltation. Our only ground of hope is in the righteousness of
Christ imputed to us, and in that wrought by His Spirit working in and
through us.
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When we speak of faith, there is a distinction that should be borne
in mind. There is a kind of belief that is wholly distinct from
faith. The existence and power of God, the truth of His word, are facts
that even Satan and his hosts cannot at heart deny. The Bible says that
"the devils also believe, and tremble;" but this is not faith. James
2:19. Where there is not only a belief in God's word, but a submission
of the will to Him; where the heart is yielded to Him, the affections
fixed upon Him, there is faith--faith that works by love and purifies
the soul. Through this faith the heart is renewed in the image of
God. And the heart that in its unrenewed state is not subject to the
law of God, neither indeed can be, now delights in its holy precepts,
exclaiming with the psalmist, "O how love I Thy law! it is my
meditation all the day." Psalm 119:97. And the righteousness of the law
is fulfilled in us, "who walk not after the flesh, but after the
Spirit." Romans 8:1.
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There are those who have known the pardoning love of Christ and who
really desire to be children of God, yet they realize that their
character is imperfect, their life faulty, and they are ready to doubt
whether their hearts have been renewed by the Holy Spirit. To such I
would say, Do not draw back in despair. We shall often have to bow down
and weep at the feet of Jesus because of our shortcomings and mistakes,
but we are not to be discouraged. Even if we are overcome by the enemy,
we are not cast off, not forsaken and rejected of God. No; Christ is at
the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Said the
beloved John, "These things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if
any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous." 1 John 2:1. And do not forget the words of Christ, "The
Father Himself loveth you." John 16:27. He desires to restore you to
Himself, to see His own purity and holiness reflected in you. And if
you will but yield yourself to Him, He that hath begun a good work in
you will carry it forward to the day of Jesus Christ. Pray more
fervently; believe more fully. As we come to distrust our own power,
let us trust the power of our Redeemer, and we shall praise Him who is
the health of our countenance.
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The closer you come to Jesus, the more faulty you will appear in
your own eyes; for your vision will be clearer, and your imperfections
will be seen in broad and distinct contrast to His perfect nature. This
is evidence that Satan's delusions have lost their power; that the
vivifying influence of the Spirit of God is arousing you.
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No deep-seated love for Jesus can dwell in the heart that does not
realize its own sinfulness. The soul that is transformed by the grace
of Christ will admire His divine character; but if we do not see our
own moral deformity, it is unmistakable evidence that we have not had a
view of the beauty and excellence of Christ.
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The less we see to esteem in ourselves, the more we shall see to
esteem in the infinite purity and loveliness of our Saviour. A view of
our sinfulness drives us to Him who can pardon; and when the soul,
realizing its helplessness, reaches out after Christ, He will reveal
Himself in power. The more our sense of need drives us to Him and to
the word of God, the more exalted views we shall have of His character,
and the more fully we shall reflect His image.
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