KEEPING CHRIST’S
COMMANDMENTS
From Signs of the Times -. September 15, 1866.
"He
that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he
that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will
manifest myself to him." John 14:21
On that solemn and eventful night in which our Lord
was betrayed, and but a little while before he suffered on the cross, these
words were spoken by him to his disciples. Although pressed in spirit, crushed
beneath the ponderous weight of all the sins of his people which were laid on
him, groaning in spirit with his soul exceeding sorrowful even unto death, and
having a baptism to be baptized with, and pressed until it should be
accomplished, with all the mighty anguish of his own soul wringing from him, as
it were, great drops of blood falling to the ground, he did not for a single
moment forget the dear objects of his love for whom he was about to pour out
his soul. As with his omniscient glance he comprehended the mighty billows of
overwhelming surprise and grief into which they were about to be immersed, when
they should see tile dearest object of their love rudely torn away from them by
a murderous mob, and see him buffeted, insulted, spit upon, and led like a lamb
to the slaughter, nailed to the torturing cross, and put to death by wicked
hands, when his dying groans should seem to put out the sun, and veil the earth
in darkness, rend the rocks, startle the slumbering dead, and convulse the
universe. Knowing, as he did, the willingness of their spirit, but the weakness
of their flesh, he gave them words of comfort against the trying hour.
"Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me.
" How seasonable was this admonition. Nothing could be more directly
calculated to shake their confidence in him as the Messiah whom they had
believed him to be, and make them fear that they had mistaken his true
character, than what they were now about to witness. They verily believed that
it was he that should redeem Israel, that he possessed almighty power, but now
to see the powers of earth and hell appear to prevail against him must
certainly try their faith in him as the Mighty God and Everlasting Father. But
though he bows his mighty head in death, his Father's throne in heaven is not
more firmly established than his ultimate and complete triumph over sin, death
and the grave; nor is he less reliable for their faith and confidence than his
Eternal Father. As they therefore believe in God, they have his warrant to believe in him. This
assurance of faith should shield their trembling heart from trouble. Had they
understood and remembered what he had told them, that he should rise again on
the third day, and that it was expedient for them that he should suffer, and
rise again, they would have been less disconsolate. And it is even so now with
the saints, when our faith and confidence is unwavering in Jesus, our heart is
protected from trouble. It is only when the surging waves of temptations and
trials assault our faith that cruel doubts and fears prevail against us now.
Whenever we believe as firmly in Jesus as our Savior as we believe in the
existence and perpetuity of the government of the Eternal Father, our joys are
unspeakable and full of glory.
Truly he was going away, but it was for
them, "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there
ye may be also." Could we but know and understand that our trials are all
designed to secure this result, that where Jesus is, there we may be also, how
cheerfully could we submit to them all. What trouble would be too great for us
to endure, if necessary to secure to us the abiding presence of our dear Redeemer?
We love to trace the
whole connection of his words of instruction and consolation recorded in this
most interesting chapter, but we designed to dwell at this time more
particularly on the text presented at the commencement of this article.
"He that hath my
commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me. " In the fifteenth
verse he says, "If ye love me, keep my commandments," and in this
verse he tells us who they are that love him. It is sometimes a point we long
to know, whether we love Jesus or not. Our love, if indeed we have any, seems
to us so cold and languid that we can hardly satisfy ourselves that we are the
people who are distinguished from all others by this peculiar mark. Let this
question be settled, and all will be right with us. "We know that we have
passed from death unto life, if we love the brethren," and, "For I am
persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor
powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any
other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord." This very important question is settled by our
Lord. "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them, he it is that loveth
me. "
Observe:
First. The commandments
of Christ spoken of in this text are not the precepts of Moses, which were
given to the carnal seed of Israel, unto whom pertained the covenants, the
giving of the law, etc. (See Romans 9:4.) The law of carnal or fleshly
commandments was given to them, and they had Moses preaching to them every
Sabbath day; but they were not thereby characterized as lovers of Christ, for
the law made nothing perfect. Nor yet the law under which the human family was
created in Adam, for all have fallen and come short of the glory of God; but
the commandments of Christ are those which indicate his spiritual dominion as
the King of saints. And these embrace all his laws and ordinances which he has
enjoined upon his redeemed, called and quickened subjects, as members of his
body, of his flesh, and of his bones. A perfect record of his commandments are
found in the New Testament, and a transcript, a perfect duplicate of them, is
written in the hearts of his spiritual subjects, embracing all that he requires
of them in faith or in practice. To neglect or disobey anything which he has
commanded, or to do anything religiously that he has not commanded, is equally
perverse and reprehensible.
Second. These commandments of Christ were
never given to the world, but to the subjects of this spiritual kingdom which
is not of this world, which is diverse from all the kingdoms of this world, and
which he has redeemed from the world. "Bind up the testimony, seal the law
among my disciples (Isaiah 8:16). " His commandments require spiritual
action, and are totally inapplicable to all such as are not born of the Spirit.
"The carnal mind is enmity against God; it is not subject to the law of
God (to this law of the Spirit of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord),
neither indeed can be. " Repentance, faith, spiritual mindedness, baptism,
communion, fellowship with the Father, and with the Son, and with the church of
God, are not given to the ungodly. They have never received, and therefore they
who hate Christ have not his commandments. As the covenants of the law were
placed carefully in the consecrated Ark of the testimony, so the laws of Christ
are hidden in his church, and in the hearts of his people.
Third. The kingdom of
Christ has its well-defined boundaries. "Judah was his sanctuary, and
Israel his dominion (Psalm 114:2). " No one can so much as see this
kingdom except he be born again; and except a man be born of the water and of
the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. The laws of no prince or
potentate extend beyond the bounds of territory over which he presides. While
Christ's providential government extends over all beings, all worlds, and all
events, his Mediatorial government, as the Prince and Savior of his people, is
confined to his spiritual subjects, who are known in the scriptures as "A
seed (that) shall serve him, and be counted to the Lord for a generation (Psalm
22:30). "
Fourth. In the preaching of Christ and
his apostles, none of the commandments of Christ were ever addressed
indiscriminately to saints and sinners. When the Good Shepherd putteth forth
his own sheep, he goeth before them, and they follow him, and he leadeth them
out. He knows his own sheep, and he is known of them. He calleth his own sheep by
name, they hear and know his voice, and they follow him, and he giveth them
eternal life, and they shall never perish, and none shall pluck them out of his
hands. (See John 10.)
When, in the beginning
of the gospel, John came from God with a commission to make ready a people
prepared for the Lord, some who were not prepared for the Lord came to him for
baptism, and although he had commanded those to whom he was sent to
"repent and be baptized," he demanded of the Pharisees and Sadducees
who had warned them to flee from the wrath to come. They must first
demonstrate to him that they were prepared for the Lord; that is, for the
kingdom and spiritual government of Christ, by fruits meet for repentance, and
think not to say that Abraham was their father. For Pharisees or Sadducees,
willworshipers, or any who were not quickened, to be baptized would be to obey
no command of Christ. He has never commanded any but believers who love him to
be baptized. It would be sacrilegious for any but believers, whether infants or
adults, to be baptized. Philip said to the eunuch, "If thou believest with
all thy heart, thou mayest. " Let it be observed that the Holy Ghost sent
Philip and inspired him to give this very answer to the direct question of the
eunuch, "What doth hinder me to be baptized?" That which should
hinder the eunuch would hinder any one else: and that which qualified him is a
sufficient qualification for any one else. "If thou believest with all thy
heart, thou mayest." His profession of faith was plain and clear. "I
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. " Enough; Philip is
satisfied. The chariot stops, and the eunuch is baptized, and then goes on his
way rejoicing; and the Spirit caught away Philip to labor elsewhere. Now the
eunuch was not required to say, I feel worthy of the ordinance, I am satisfied
I shall do honor to my profession, or I have Abraham to my father. He was a
believer, which he could not have been if he were not born of God, and being a
quickened believer, he had the commandment; he did love Jesus, and it was
therefore his happy privilege. But to settle this matter effectually and
forever, we have only to observe what Jesus says in verse fifteen, "If ye
love me, keep my commandments. " The commandments of Christ are given only
to them that love him; they only have his commandments who love him; and they
love him because he has first loved them. The commandments of Jesus are not
confined to baptism, but all is embraced that he has enjoined on them. But
baptism is the first in the order of the commands which are given to believers
who love him; and they cannot live one hour after he has revealed his love in
their hearts in neglect of the holy ordinances, where a door is open for them,
without involving disobedience. His commandments which they have require them
to deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and to follow the Lamb, to walk
in love and fellowship with those in his church who have obtained like precious
faith, and given evidence thereof by obedience in like manner to Christ. He
commands them to be separate from the world, to renounce its vanities, to have
no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, to contend earnestly for
the faith once delivered to the saints: but he commands them to use such
weapons as belong to the armor of God; not carnal weapons, for they are
forbidden to render evil for evil to any man, but to love their enemies, pray
for them who despitefully use and persecute them. The whole code of Jesus'
commandments are now upon them. They take his yoke in baptism, and before
heaven and earth declare their allegiance to him as their supreme Potentate and
King. His vows are upon them, and it becomes their privilege, as it is their
duty, to observe all things whatsoever he has commanded them, whatever amount of
self-denial it may require, or whatever of persecution it may involve. But one
preliminary question is allowed, "If ye love me?" This settled, and
all his commands are imperatively binding on all such.
Thus we see that
inasmuch as the commands of Christ are restricted to those exclusively who love
him (for he will have no subjects in his kingdom but such as love him),
therefore he that hath them, and keepeth, or obeyeth them, is really and
manifestly him that loveth him, and to all such loving and obedient children
the gracious assurance of our text belongs.
"And he that loveth
me shall be loved of my Father. " This is an assurance and guarantee of
the perpetuity of the love of God to all such as bear the description already
given. Not by any means as a consequence of their love to Christ, nor to be
regarded as a reward of merit, for:
1st. God's love is
eternal, immutable, sovereign and self-moving, beyond the power of any
influences that can possibly be brought to bear upon it. Had this not been the
case, it could never have reached any of the degenerate and guilty sons of men.
"But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by
grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:4-5). "
2nd. The love of God the
Father was given to the saints, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly
places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation
of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love
(Ephesians 1: 3,4). " And in John 17:23,24, " I in them, and thou in
me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou
hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that
they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold
my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovest me before the foundation of
the world. " The positive declaration that God's love to his people was
before the foundation of the world forbids the idea that it was ever induced by
any influence brought to bear since the foundation of the world.
3rd. It is of too high
and holy a character to be moved by influences necessarily of an inferior
order. Besides, if it could have been induced by any agency whatever, it might
by the same agency be repelled or wholly withdrawn.
One may then inquire,
why is it thus said, "And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father.
" We understand it to be given as a comforting assurance of the perpetuity
of the love of the Father to those who are so clearly identified as the members
of Christ. As the love of the Father to them is even with, or equal to,
his love to Christ, although they may seem to themselves, and to the world, so
unworthy of such manner of love as God has bestowed on them, that they should
be called his sons, still the world shall know that God has loved them even as
he has loved Christ. And furthermore, we understand the declaration to embrace
the manifestations of his love to them. Many things occur to make us fear that
God's mercies are, so far as we are concerned, clean gone forever, and that he
will love us and be gracious to us no more. So it appeared to the reasoning capacities
of the Jews in regard to our suffering Redeemer on the cross. "He trusted
in God, let him deliver him now, if he will have him; for he said, I am the Son
of God. " His sufferings were regarded by carnal men as evidence that God
did not love him, and so our own carnal reason insinuates to us that if God
loved us, he would save us from such dreadful temptations as we sometimes
endure; but to fortify the disciples for the dreadful trial, he assures them
that his Father will love them. How inspiring the assurance! What could so well
fortify us for sore afflictions, bitter persecutions, or strong temptations, as
the assurance that God will manifest his love to us? If then we have the
commandments of Jesus, and are enabled through abounding grace to obey them,
such manifestations of the love of the Father are made to us as to revive our
faith, confirm our hope, and banish our doubts and fears.
"And I will love him, and manifest myself to him." Even when he rebukes and chastens his people for their disobedience, or for the trial of their faith, he loves them, and in love he scourges them for their good; but the tenderness of his love to them is not so manifest to their understanding as when they have his commandments, and walk in obedience to him. "The way of the transgressor is hard," but the pathway of the righteous shines brighter and brighter. The experience of all the children of God agrees with this instruction. We cannot expect to enjoy the smiles of our Savior, and realize the glowing manifestations of his love flowing into our hearts when we forsake his law, and walk not in his judgments, when we break his statutes and keep not his commandments; for then he will, in covenant faithfulness, visit our transgressions with the rod, and our iniquity with stripes. He will not only give to his obedient children gracious and cheering manifestations of his love, but he will manifest himself to them. "I will not leave you comfortless; I will come unto you. " He comes by his Spirit, in his word, and manifests himself as their Prince and Savior, the Captain of their salvation; as their Deliverer, their Protector, and their all. In all his relations to them, he manifests himself, and in all his offices he reveals himself to them for their comfort, safety and encouragement.
It is a blessed thing to
have his commandments; to be a subject of his spiritual government; to feel his
love shed abroad in our hearts, drawing us to his embrace, and inclining us to honor
and obey him. Thrice blessed to abide in his love; for he says, "If ye
keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my
Father's commandments, and abide in his love (John 15: 10).
Please direct your comments to Mike Krall.