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THE BLESSINGS IMPARTED BY THE GOSPEL
WE cannot but admire the address which is manifest in all the Epistles of St. Paul. He of course has frequent occasion to mention truths which are far from palatable to those to whom they are spoken: but he always introduces them in so kind a manner, and accompanies them with such expressions of the most unfeigned love, that it is almost impossible for any to be offended with him. He never shrinks from a faithful discharge of his duty: but he exerts himself always, to the utmost of his power, to heal the wounds which his fidelity inflicts. The Corinthian Church was in a far worse state than any other that he had occasion to address: indeed the manners of the Corinthians, previous to their conversion, were dissolute even to a proverb; and therefore it is the less to be wondered at, that, after their conversion, many of them should still need admonition on points which they had hitherto been accustomed to regard as venial at least, if not altogether indifferent. On every thing necessary for their welfare, the Apostle here communicates his sentiments freely: but in the commencement of his epistle he makes no difference between the Corinthians and the purest of all the Churches. He knew that if many among them were corrupt, the great majority of them were sincere; and therefore he comprehends them all in the first expressions of his regard, that he may afterwards have the more influence over those, whose errors he designed to rectify. And this by the way shews us, that, when we see in our Liturgy the same charitable expressions relative to the state of persons in our own Church, we ought not scrupulously to strain every word to the uttermost, but should allow the same latitude of expression in the one case as we do in the other. But not to dwell on this, we notice in this introductory acknowledgment of the Apostle,
I. The blessings which the Gospel imparts—
The Gospel is no other than “a testimony” of Jesus. This was “the spirit of prophecy” under the Old Testament [Note: Rev_19:11.]; and it is the spirit of all the writings in the New Testament. What the testimony was, is declared with great precision by St. John: “This is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life; and this life is in his Son; he that hath the Son, hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not life [Note: 1Jn_5:11-12.].”
The believer has this testimony “confirmed in him.” There are two ways in which this testimony is confirmed: the one is externally, by signs and miracles; the other is internally, by the operation of the Spirit of God upon the soul. The Corinthians had had it confirmed to them in both ways: for no Church exceeded them in miraculous gifts [Note: 1Co_12:10.]; and in the change wrought upon their own souls, they had an evidence of the truth and power of the Gospel: they had an evidence of it in “the grace which had been given them by Jesus Christ.”
Two things in particular they had received, which served to mark the saving efficacy of the Gospel; namely,
1. An enlightened mind—
[They had been “enriched by Christ with all utterance and all knowledge.” Distinct from miraculous gifts, there is in believers a knowledge of an experimental kind, and an ability also to declare that knowledge with ease and precision. It is a knowledge derived from the heart, rather than from the understanding; even such as Solomon refers to, when he says, “The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips [Note: Pro_16:23.].” St. John speaks of this when he says, “He that believeth in the Son of God hath the witness in himself [Note: 1Jn_5:10.].” There is a perfect correspondence between the divine record concerning Christ, and the feelings of the believer’s soul: he feels that he needs such a salvation as Christ offers, and that there is in Christ a sufficiency for all his wants: and in speaking of these things every believer throughout the universe is agreed. As in all human beings, notwithstanding some minute differences, there are the same general features belonging to the body; so in the minds of all believers there is, notwithstanding a diversity in smaller matters, a correspondence in their general views and sentiments; they all confess themselves to be sinners saved by grace through the Redeemer’s blood. Others, who are not true believers, may have the same creed; but they have not these truths written in their hearts; nor can they speak of them from their own experience: this is the portion of the true believer only; and it is a portion, in comparison of which all the knowledge in the universe and all the wealth of the Indies are but dross and dung [Note: Php_3:8.].]
2. A waiting spirit—
[The Corinthians “came behind in no gift, waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The saints under the Mosaic dispensation waited for the first advent of our Lord: those under the Christian dispensation wait for his second advent, when he will come again from heaven in power and great glory, to gather together his elect, and to put them into full possession of their destined inheritance. The first Christians thought this period very near at hand: we who live almost 1800 years after them, believe that it is yet distant; because there are many prophecies not yet fulfilled, which must receive an accomplishment before the arrival of that time. But, as far as respects us individually, the time is near to every one of us, even at the door; for, on the instant of our departure from the body, we are borne into the presence of our Judge, and have our portion for ever fixed. Hence the believer waits for his dissolution, as the promised commencement of everlasting joys. Others may wait, and even long, for death, as a termination of their sorrows; but it is the believer alone who “looks for and hastes unto the coming of the day of Christ,” as the completion and consummation of all his joys. Others may affect heaven as “a rest” from trouble; but the believer alone pants for it as a rest in God. In the view of that day, “he is sober, and hopes to the end for the grace that shall be brought unto him at the revelation of Jesus Christ [Note: 1Pe_1:13.].”]
But from our text we are led to notice farther,
II. The blessings which the Gospel secures—
God in calling us to the knowledge of his Son, calls us also to a fellowship with his Son, in all the blessings both of grace and glory: and where he gives the former of these blessings, there he engages to impart the latter also. On this ground, the promise of a faithful God, the Apostle assured the Corinthians of,
1. Their continued preservation—
[“He shall confirm you unto the end,” says he. If believers were left to themselves, they would have no prospect of ever enduring to the end. So many and so great are the difficulties which they have to contend with, that they could have no hope at all. But God undertakes for them, to “keep them by his own power through faith unto salvation.” He engages both for himself and for them: for himself, that “he will not depart from them to do them good:” and for them, that “he will put his fear into their hearts, so that they shall not depart from him [Note: Jer_32:40.].” If they offend him by any violation or neglect of duty, “he will visit their transgressions with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes: but his loving-kindness will he not utterly take from them, nor suffer his faithfulness to fail: for once he has sworn by his holiness, that he will not lie unto David [Note: Psa_89:30-35.].” So fully assured of this truth was Paul in relation to the Philippian Church, that he declared himself “confident of this very thing, that He who had begun a good work in them would perform it until the day of Jesus Christ [Note: Php_1:6.]:” and the same confidence we may feel in relation to every true believer, that “none shall ever separate him from the love of Christ [Note: Rom_8:38-39.].” God pledges his own word, that “he will not suffer them to be tempted above that they are able [Note: 1Co_10:13.],” but that “he will perfect that which concerneth them.” When therefore we “pray to God that our whole spirit, soul, and body may be preserved blameless unto his heavenly kingdom,” we are authorized to add, “Faithful is he who hath called us; who also will do it [Note: 1Th_5:23-24.].”]
2. Their ultimate acceptance—
[“He will preserve us, that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “Blameless” in some respect his people already are, inasmuch as the Lord Jesus Christ has washed them in his blood, and pronounced them “clean [Note: Joh_15:3.].” But in the last day we shall be blameless in ourselves, as well as in him; being not only justified, as we now are, by his blood, but sanctified also by his Spirit, and transformed into the perfect image of our God. Then “will Christ present us to himself, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; yea, holy, and without blemish [Note: Eph_5:27.];” and in the meantime he will, by his almighty and all-sufficient grace, “strengthen, and establish, and settle us even to the end [Note: 1Pe_5:10.].”
Thus does God assure to his people their continued preservation, and their ultimate acceptance with him: and he pledges his own faithfulness for the performance of his word.
But let no man imagine that these truths supersede the necessity of care and watchfulness on our part; for God will never fulfil his promise to us but through the instrumentality of our exertions. Hence he requires every exertion on our part, precisely as if he had left the final issue solely dependent on our own efforts; and suspends his promised mercies altogether on the performance of our duties. To obtain his final acceptance of us as blameless, we must hold fast our faith: “He will present us holy and unblameable, and unreproveable in his sight, if we continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the Gospel [Note: Col_1:22-23.].” We must also abound in love; we must “increase and abound in love one towards another, to the end that he may establish our hearts unblameable in holiness before God even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints [Note: 1Th_3:12-13.].” We must also use all diligence in every duty; for it is by diligence that we are to “make our calling and election sure,” and that we are to be “found of him at last in peace, without spot and blameless [Note: 2Pe_1:10; 2Pe_3:14.].”
Here we see that the very things which God has promised to us, are to be obtained through the medium of our own faith and love and diligence. Without these, the end shall never be obtained (for God has connected the end with the means): but through the continued exercise of these, the end is secured beyond a possibility of failure. “God cannot deny himself [Note: 2Ti_2:13.]:” and his word, confirmed as it is by covenant and by oath, can never fail [Note: Heb_6:18.]. “Heaven and earth may pass away: but his word shall never pass away [Note: Mat_24:35.].”]
Application—
1. Be thankful if you are partakers of this grace—
[St. Paul “thanked God always on the behalf” of the Corinthians on this account: how much more therefore should those be thankful, who have received the benefit! To possess this experimental knowledge of the Gospel salvation, and to enjoy these blessed prospects of immortality and glory, is the highest felicity of man. Having these “things which accompany salvation,” we need not covet any other good, or regret any attendant evil: we have the richest blessings that God himself can bestow.]
2. Be careful to walk worthy of it—
[The mercies of God to us call for a suitable requital: and the requital which he desires is, a total surrender of ourselves to him [Note: Rom_12:1.]. The thing which God designs, in the communication of his mercy to us, is, to “keep us blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus.” Let that then be our end in the improvement of them, even to be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, shining among them as lights in a dark world [Note: Php_2:15.].”]
3. Remember in whom all your strength is—
[Of yourselves you can do nothing. It is God, and God alone, that can “confirm you unto the end.” He who has been “the Author, must also be the Finisher,” of your salvation. It is “He that must work all your works in you:” “all your fresh springs must be in him.” Know then, that “he is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy [Note: Jude, ver. 24.];” and he will do it, if you rely upon him; for St. Paul expressly says, “The Lord is faithful, who will stablish you, and keep you from evil [Note: 2Th_3:3.].” To him therefore, even “to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, now and for ever. Amen [Note: Jude, ver. 25.].”]