The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1878-03-20

the seven churches in Rev. ii, iii, we see tha
He makes q steady decline, beginning from
Epbesus, till we at lass reach the Dauseou
indifference of Laodicea, .either cold nor hot
which in every respect fAlsi6es the testimony
it ought to bear to the truth. And just herr
in contrast with man ) unfathfulness, th'
Lord calls himself "tse faithful aud tru
witness" The First. M'u fails everywhere
and in everything. The Second Man is al
ways true. Christ in n dispensations ha'
been the true vine, the only one from which
fruit to God could be greAered.
Verse 2 We take "esery branch IN me,
to mean any real Christis9, No other mean
ing accords with the frequent use of the
phrase Gin Christ used through the New
Testament to denote living union with the
Lord as members of his body. But we also
assume that Scripture gives no ground fol
the doctrine Of some, zlat man may be
once branch in Christ, the true vine, rea
Christian, and then bqeome lost SOUL
sos4 slsail irs q Of Christ''
or the Fathers suud. A-yy have eterna
life given unto them. kere may then bt
real Christians who cease to bear fruit, and
those the Father taketh sway.
How may believer cease to bear fruit
|
He may have reached tbe.limit Of his physi
cal and mental powers. And when he has
spent and been spent for Christ, the Father
may take him away to enjoy the reward ot
good and faithful servant. Or, he may BY
acts and habits of sin, have ceased to be g
vessel meet for the Masters use. He may
then be taken away in jGrgment for his sins
I" There is a sin unto death, John y: 10
and it is the sin of "brother" too.
Among the COrinthian believers there vas
sin in regard to the Lords Supper, and, MOI
Judging themselves, God had judged them
and many among them were weak and Sickly
and many had even died. l Cor. xi: 90
3d. The husbandman looking for fruit hat
removed them as unfruilfal branches, anG
yet it seems they were true Christians
Some were weak and siokly uuder the Faith
er's judgment, but not yet removed, because
capable still of bringing forth more fruit.
1t is then the Fathers will and should bt
our desire not simply to be fruitful branches
in Christ, but to increase in fruitfulness.-
And to this end he "Iurgeth (kathairei
oleanseth) us. "Now ye are clean (kathairei
through the word which have spoken unto
you" 1t is seen how the English version
obscures the sense of the passage, by using
"purgeth" in the second verse, and "cean'
in third verse. The trush obscured is, tina
the instrument which the Father uses to in
crease thefrultfulnesS of the branches is th'
word of God. With the disciples it was a
the time -she vordSos ca from she lips, Q
Jesus himself. With usht is the writer
word applied by the Holy Spirit. Chris
slowed the church, and gave himself for it
that he might sanctify and clease it with tn
washing of water by the Word, that b
might present it to himself glorious church
not having spot, or wrinkle, or any suc
thing; but that it sbould'be holy and with
out blemisb." This is the cleansing per
fected, and the instrument is the Word
The same cffce of the Word seems to b
referred to in the scene where Jesus washe
the disciples feet He that is washe
(bathed leloamenOs) needeth not save t
wash (nipsasthai) his feet, but ia clean ever
whit. Oar lSti6Cation upon believing
perfect, but from the daily deGlements of gu
sins we must be cleaused, because otherwia
!. our communion with the Father is broker
These deGlements are cleansed for believer
only when by the Word We are brought
see the Gins and to confess them to ou
Father, who {" is faithful and just to fOrgiv
us our sins, and to cleanse US from all VI
, Righteousness. Here is our laver, "th
sea for the priests to wash in" II Chrol
, iv: 6. Just as the priests of the temp
, might come thousand times day, if neeC
ed, to cleanse themselves, so may We CON
a and be cleansed, and walk together col
. sciously in the light, even as God is tt
light. And we are ready to say what merc
. q and grace that our Father has made sue
provisions
8 But he puts it on different grounds. 1
/, is faithful and just to forgive as and
8 cleanse u.s." Faithful to His covenant wi
}. the Son, just to Him who bore our Sina in
y own body on the tree, whom God made to
g sin for US though He kpew no sin, that
might be made the righteousness of God
- Him. Even Gods children are slow to ia
Q it in that He is just in justifying him th
n beleveth in Jesus.
y Now as all Scripture is profitable, that t
= man of God may be perfect, what motiV
1t have we here to study the word of God,
ID study it simply, the whole of it, to study
d for personal benefit to ourselves, to let
d search US through and through, and let
l- place and keep US ever in the light as G
le is in the light, detecting all our sins, SCI
7e rating US from them unto God, sanctifyi
7e us wholly, that our whole spirit soul a
ID body be preserved blamelesS unto the conf
it of our Lord Jesus Christ.
es (To BE CONCLUDED
e -