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(1)
Justification comes freely by grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
(Rom. 3: 24).
(2)
The law of the spirit of life makes free from the law of sin and death, and this law
is "in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8: 2).
(3)
Nothing can separate the redeemed from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus
(Rom. 8: 39).
(4)
We have liberty in Christ Jesus (Gal. 2: 4).
(5)
We are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus (Gal. 3: 26).
In the Prison Epistles this title appears many times, and the reader would be wise to
make a note of the R.V. text of these epistles. In addition to the occurrences found in the
A.V. the following additional references to "Christ Jesus" should be noted.
Eph. 1: 1, 20; 3: 1, 6; Phil. 1: 1, 8, 26; Col. 1: 1; 4: 12; II Tim. 1: 1, 10; 2: 3; 4: 1.
Col. 1: 28 should read "Christ" and not "Christ Jesus". This means that there are
nine occurrences of "Christ Jesus" in Ephesians, ten in Philippians, four in Colossians,
twelve in II Timothy and two in Philemon--in all 37 references. It would manifestly be
impossible to review these passages and note their special doctrinal teaching here. But to
all who would `possess their possessions' that examination appears to be essential.
No.5.
"The Just for the unjust."
pp. 238 - 240
Ye have heard that it has been said, "An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth, But I
say unto you, That ye resist not evil" (Matt. 5: 38, 39). Commenting upon this passage
we might also say "Ye have heard that it has been said, see how severe is the law of
Moses, but see how merciful is the gospel of Christ". But would such a comment be
true? In the first place the Gospel of Christ is nowhere the subject of the Sermon on the
Mount. At the time of utterance He had neither died nor risen again, neither had He at
the time revealed that He must do so (Matt. 16: 21). In the second place, the quotation
we have given from the Sermon on the Mount, is one of seven that opens with some such
words as "Ye have heard that it was said by them of old . . . . . But I say unto you"
(Matt. 5: 21, 22, 27, 28, 31-34, 38-42). Do these passages announce a severe law and
follow it by a gentler gospel?
The law said, that whosoever kills shall be in danger of the judgment, but what saith
the Saviour? He said that if any one was even angry with his brother without cause he
would be in danger of judgment! Here then the law of the Sermon on the Mount is more
severe than the law of Moses! The same applies to the law of adultery. We must
therefore adjust our view of the last passage where it speaks of `an eye for an eye', and
see that it was easier for a man to exact even-handed justice, an eye for an eye, than to
submit to the severer demand of the Sermon on the Mount and resist not evil. In addition
to all this, these seven utterances are preceded by the saying of Christ that He had not