Online Resource Library
Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJohn Macduff Collection: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days): Day 5
TOPIC: MacDuff, John - The Christians Pathway (31 days) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: Day 5
Other Subjects in this Topic:
"Which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col_1:27
The believer's present and everlasting well-being, is secured in virtue of his union with the Lord Jesus. If Christ is in him—no evil can befall him; he can welcome the greatest sorrows and sufferings; he can triumph in tribulations, and rejoice in anticipation of the glory to be revealed. If Christ is in him—he can say to Satan, "Do your utmost; exert all your hellish rage; I fear you not!" If Christ is in him, he can say to death, "Come, you messenger of my Father's love; your stroke I cannot escape—but your sting being extracted, I am not dismayed!" If Christ is in him—all will be well, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in adversity, in time and throughout eternity.
"My beloved is mine—and I am his," is the language of the Christian in the book of Canticles. How great is the blessedness involved, in such an assurance! My beloved is mine—mine in the dignity of His person—in the suitability of His offices—in the immensity of His love—in the efficacy of His atonement—in the riches of His abounding grace! His righteousness is mine to justify me, His Spirit is mine to sanctify me, His power is mine to defend me, His wisdom is mine to guide me, and His heaven is mine to receive me!
And what does Christ say to the believer in return? In the language of the king of Israel to the king of Syria, he says, "I am yours—and all that I have. I have boundless and unsearchable riches—and those riches are for you! I have happiness to bestow, such as the mind in its largest grasp has never been able to conceive—and that happiness is for you! I have crowns and scepters at my disposal—and all those dignities are for you! Yes, to him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on My throne, even as I also overcame, and have sat down with my Father on His throne."
The Christian's exaltation and bliss is a matter of no doubtful disputation. And what makes it so certain? It is the blessed truth that the union which subsists between him and the Great Head—is an indissoluble union! All other connections, however close and endearing, can be broken. That union of husband and wife, and soul and body—has no power to resist the assault of the great destroyer. But hear what the voice from heaven proclaims: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord!" Not merely did they live in Him—but they die in Him; the union remains undisturbed!
When writing to a friend, it is a common custom to close with the words "Yours until death," for all earthly ties must then be severed. But death, which breaks every other bond, only strengthens the one of which we are speaking. Death, which quenches every other love, kindles that of the believer for Jesus—into a purer and intenser flame! Death, which snatches every other object from our grasp, brings us to the full enjoyment of Him, who is the fountain of life, the great center and source of all being and of all blessedness.
Christian, rejoice in your union with Jesus! The changes of time cannot touch it; the storms of life cannot injure it; the sword of persecution cannot sever it; the damps of death cannot affect it; the malice of hell cannot move it. It is a union which will last forever. It follows, therefore, that you, if a partaker of it—will be rich forever, safe forever, dignified forever, and blessed forever!
The believer's present and everlasting well-being, is secured in virtue of his union with the Lord Jesus. If Christ is in him—no evil can befall him; he can welcome the greatest sorrows and sufferings; he can triumph in tribulations, and rejoice in anticipation of the glory to be revealed. If Christ is in him—he can say to Satan, "Do your utmost; exert all your hellish rage; I fear you not!" If Christ is in him, he can say to death, "Come, you messenger of my Father's love; your stroke I cannot escape—but your sting being extracted, I am not dismayed!" If Christ is in him—all will be well, in sickness and in health, in prosperity and in adversity, in time and throughout eternity.
"My beloved is mine—and I am his," is the language of the Christian in the book of Canticles. How great is the blessedness involved, in such an assurance! My beloved is mine—mine in the dignity of His person—in the suitability of His offices—in the immensity of His love—in the efficacy of His atonement—in the riches of His abounding grace! His righteousness is mine to justify me, His Spirit is mine to sanctify me, His power is mine to defend me, His wisdom is mine to guide me, and His heaven is mine to receive me!
And what does Christ say to the believer in return? In the language of the king of Israel to the king of Syria, he says, "I am yours—and all that I have. I have boundless and unsearchable riches—and those riches are for you! I have happiness to bestow, such as the mind in its largest grasp has never been able to conceive—and that happiness is for you! I have crowns and scepters at my disposal—and all those dignities are for you! Yes, to him who overcomes, I will grant to sit with me on My throne, even as I also overcame, and have sat down with my Father on His throne."
The Christian's exaltation and bliss is a matter of no doubtful disputation. And what makes it so certain? It is the blessed truth that the union which subsists between him and the Great Head—is an indissoluble union! All other connections, however close and endearing, can be broken. That union of husband and wife, and soul and body—has no power to resist the assault of the great destroyer. But hear what the voice from heaven proclaims: "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord!" Not merely did they live in Him—but they die in Him; the union remains undisturbed!
When writing to a friend, it is a common custom to close with the words "Yours until death," for all earthly ties must then be severed. But death, which breaks every other bond, only strengthens the one of which we are speaking. Death, which quenches every other love, kindles that of the believer for Jesus—into a purer and intenser flame! Death, which snatches every other object from our grasp, brings us to the full enjoyment of Him, who is the fountain of life, the great center and source of all being and of all blessedness.
Christian, rejoice in your union with Jesus! The changes of time cannot touch it; the storms of life cannot injure it; the sword of persecution cannot sever it; the damps of death cannot affect it; the malice of hell cannot move it. It is a union which will last forever. It follows, therefore, that you, if a partaker of it—will be rich forever, safe forever, dignified forever, and blessed forever!