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Here again, contingency, "if", motive, intention, heart and not appearance, desire and
not deed, come in and influence the judgment of that day. The believer who by reason of
his upbringing has imbibed many prevalent errors both of doctrine and practice may be
severely condemned by more enlightened brethren now. A man may be a believer, yet
have a very poor conception of the integrity or inspiration of the Scriptures. He may be
completely muddled about the question of hope, immorality, the Second Coming,
right division, the Mystery, etc., and yet the believer who has been enlightened enough
to see that all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, who is clear regarding that
blessed Hope, who is entirely free from the traditional teaching concerning the
immorality of the soul, who appreciates and practices right division (and as the Apostle
says to this very church, he may understand all mysteries), he should remember that
while all this light brings joy and blessing beyond computation, there is also at the same
time added responsibility. He should, while judging the error in the other man, `consider
himself', for he is putting up a standard whereby he himself will be judged.
We must carry with us the principle which is embedded in I Cor. 11: 32 when we turn
to one or two passages which on the surface seem to speak of an adverse judgment being
given against the believer at the bema in the future, but the subject is sufficiently solemn
and important to merit a consideration by itself.
No.5 (Con't).
Chastening now, instead of condemnation then.
pp. 156 - 160
It will be remembered that in our opening survey of this great subject, we quoted
among other passages I Cor. 11: 31, 32:
"For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. But when we are judged,
we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world."
We must give a fuller consideration of this idea of `chastening' as being something
which a believer may receive here, rather than `condemnation' in the future, and the
passage that provides much food for thought in this matter is Heb. 12: The passage with
which we are concerned is comprised with verses 5-14:
Hebrews 12: 5 - 14
A |
5-10.
Mark of sonship. Discipline received.
B
| 10.
The end. Partakers of His holiness.
A |
11-13.
Fruit of righteousness. Discipline exercised.
B
| 14.
The pursuit. Peace and holiness.
Going back to Heb. 11: we observe that the first verse speaks of faith under two
aspects. (1) The substance of things hoped for. (2) The evidence of things not seen.
The word translated `evidence' is the Greek word elengchos, and as it is the bearing of