Читать книгу The Gospel Day; Or, the Light of Christianity - Charles Ebert Orr - Страница 7

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Christianity is a light in this world because of the greatness of its power and the excellence of its purity. John, who is denominated the forerunner of Jesus, or the heralding star of Christianity, said that “he was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” John 1:8, 9. Of whom speaketh the prophet then? The Son of God will answer this question in these words: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” John 8:12. Jesus was the light of the world because [pg 034] of his power and purity. All power was given unto him in heaven and in earth. Mat. 28:18.

He was holy, harmless and undefiled. Heb. 7:26. The Lord Jesus lived a pure and holy life. “He did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” He had power to open the blind eyes, to unstop the deaf ears, to loose the dumb tongue, to make the lame man leap as a hart, and to heal all manner of diseases, and to raise the dead. There is no sin in heaven; there is no sickness there. He brought the light of heaven to this world in displaying his power over sin and disease. Glory to his name!

We wish to impress this fact upon the reader's mind that he was a light because of his purity and power, and because he was the “Truth.” And now if you will but believe it, that is the true light of Christianity. The Lord Jesus was only a visitant. His stay on earth was transient. He came from heaven, and heaven soon again received him. Referring to his departure he said to his disciples: “Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light; … while ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light.” John 12:35, 36.

Again he says, “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5. We learn the sad story of his crucifixion, then the glad news of his resurrection, and then his ascension in a cloud to the glory, from whence he came. Is the light of Christianity [pg 035] gone from the world? Is this world left again in darkness? No; thank God! Jesus now says to his devoted followers: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill can not be hid.” Mat. 5:14. It is the “city of Zion, the perfection of beauty,” out of which God doth shine. “The glory of God is risen upon her.” Jesus told them to believe in the light while they had the light, that they might be the children of light. Paul, in exhorting Christians to a holy life, said: “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Phil. 2:15. “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” Eph. 5:8. “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” 1 Thes. 5:5.

This is the spiritual moon reflecting the light of the Sun. It is “God that shineth in thee.” They are “light in the Lord,” and they are commanded to “let their light shine, that God might be glorified.” This is beautiful. Oh, what a privilege

To be a vessel transparent,

Clear as the crystal sea,

Letting the glorious light of heaven

Brilliantly shine through thee.

Beloved saints, take heed that there be not one spot in thee to obstruct the light of God. “Let it shine.” [pg 036] Submissively place thyself in the crucible and there be polished and refined and purged and cleansed until thou art “purer than snow, and whiter than milk, and more ruddy than rubies.”

How can the Lord now, since his ascension, shine through his church? The Scriptures make this very plain. Jesus told his own that he would not long be with them, but said, “I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world can not receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” John 14:16–18.

In verse twenty-six he tells us the Comforter is the Holy Ghost. In the second chapter of Acts we have the account of the Holy Spirit's coming. If you will again look over the quotation from John 14:16–18 you will notice he uses “Comforter” and “I” interchangeably. He will give you another Comforter. “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” The Holy Spirit's coming on Pentecost was Christ in another personage. Christ in the Spirit has now come to dwell in the midst of his people, and to be a light in them. Jesus was here in the body on a mission of mercy. He tasted death for every man. He comes again in the Spirit to “reprove the world of righteousness, of sin, and of judgment.” In Heb. 10:5 Jesus says, “A body hast thou prepared [pg 037] me.” A body in which to offer a sacrifice for the sins of the world. He now has a body in which he dwells in the Spirit. Christians are “a holy temple in the Lord, in whom they are builded together for a habitation of God through the Spirit.” Thus God inhabits his people, “dwells in them, and walks in them.” The church of God is now the body of Christ. He is the “head over all things to the church, which is his body.” Eph. 1:22, 23; see also Col. 1:18.

In speaking of saints in 1 Cor. 12:27 the apostle says, “Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular.” He was the light of the world in his incarnation, and now the church, his body, is the light of the world. Incarnate he was a light because of his purity and power, and he lives the same pure life and manifests the same marvelous power in his body, the church, as when here in his personal ministry. He healed the sick, cast out devils, opened blinded eyes, unstopped deaf ears, and raised the dead. After the Holy Spirit's coming he performs the same wondrous works in his body, the church. Through the apostle Peter he healed a lame man, restored to life a dead woman, etc. He is “the very same Jesus.” When he was here in the flesh he could be seen and his marvelous works witnessed by the natural eye. The Holy Spirit is imperceptible to the natural eye, and therefore can only reveal himself to the world as he works in the midst of his people. It is thus that Christians reflect the light of Christ.

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In the sixteenth of Mark the Lord commanded his disciples to go “into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.” Ver. 15–19.

In verse nineteen it is said the Lord was received up into heaven and sat on the right hand of God. In verse twenty it is said, “They [the disciples] went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following.” The Lord worked with them; then he must have returned. He did in the manner we have told you. He returned to be a light in the midst of his people by confirming the truth wherever it is lifted up. He did do it, and he now does it. God bears witness to his truth, both with signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost. Heb. 2:4. For Christianity to be a light there must be the performance of signs and wonders and divers miracles. Such is true Christianity, and such is her light, a queen swaying her scepter over the works of Satan, setting at liberty the captives, breaking the [pg 039] bands of Satan asunder, healing the diseased, and scattering peace and bright hopes in the hearts of men. Glory to God forevermore!