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Had it not been for the outbreak of war, we should by now, under the Lord's enabling,
have a series of concordance studies of the words and phrases used in the Scriptures with
regard to this sacred theme. As it is, the introductory set which appeared in Volume IV,
pages 84 and 85, has had no successor, and our brother, Mr. Soper, who had commenced
the investigation, will be unable to resume until this awful state of affairs in the Continent
of Europe has been changed for peace. Certain aspects of truth, however, are beclouded
to many, owing to confused notions regarding these things, and we therefore submit these
studies with all lowliness of mind, urging all to accept them merely as a means to get
back to what the Word actually says. Our brother's concordance studies may be the
better appreciated afterwards.
#2.
The Death of Christ.
pp. 59 - 61
If we were to be asked to quote the verses where the death of Christ is stated to have
its place in the purpose of the ages, it is possible that we should imagine that the passages
were too many for one to hope to keep them in memory.
Seven passages, however, are all that contain the word "death," and it will do us good
just to see what they teach us as to the results and objects of that death. If we accept (as
the writer does) that Paul is the human author of Hebrews, the first surprise will be that
he alone of all the apostles uses this word in a doctrinal connection. Coupled with this
statement, and essentially linked with it as a doctrine, is the fact that, with the exception
of the references in Luke 3: 38 and Jude 14, no other writer in the N.T. speaks of
Adam. Paul speaks of Adam also seven times, a series of references that demand separate
attention we shall see, however, that the death of Christ has a great deal to do with the
death brought in by Adam, therefore we mention it here. The following passages are all
that occur in the N.T. where the word death is used of the Lord Jesus Christ, connected
with some doctrinal statement:--
Rom. 5: 10.--"For if, being enemies of God, we were reconciled to God through the death
of His Son, by how much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life."
Phil. 2: 8.--"And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, becoming
obedient unto death, even of a death of a cross."
Phil. 3: 10.--"To know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed to His death."
Col. 1: 21, 22.--"And you who once were alienated and enemies in mind by wicked works,
yet now hath He fully reconciled in the body of His flesh through the death, to present you
holy and unblameable and irreproachable before Him."
Heb. 2: 9.--"But we see Jesus, Who, made some little inferior to angels, on account of the
suffering of the death, crowned with glory and honour; so that by the grace of God He should
taste death on behalf of all."