We
believe that if we are to attain to truth, we must distinguish most clearly
between :
standing | and | state. |
hope | and | prize. |
free gift | and | reward. |
Otherwise, by confusing things that differ we shall give no certain sound in our witness, and have no certainty in our work or walk.
'It
is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him.
If we suffer,
we shall also reign with Him: if we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we believe
not, He abideth faithful: He cannot deny Himself' (2 Tim. 2:11-13).
' ... Made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light'
(Col. 1:12)
'Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for
ye serve the
Lord Christ' (Col. 3:24).
'In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable
and
unreproveable in His sight' (Col. 1:22).
' ... warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present
every
man perfect in Christ Jesus' (Col. 1:28).
'In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him' (Eph.
3:12).
' ... Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling' (Phil. 2:12).
' ... I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities
... shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord' (Rom. 8:38,39).
'Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize?
So run, that ye may obtain ... I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection:
lest that by any means, when I have preached (heralded) to others, I myself
should be a castaway (disapproved)' (1 Cor. 9:24-27).
'Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do,
forgetting those
things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus'
(Phil. 3:13,14).
'I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness' (2 Tim. 4;7,8).
Much
mischief is wrought among the children of God by teachers failing to distinguish
between those things which belong to the believer in Christ as a free gift of
grace, and those things which are held out to him as a reward in connection
with his service.
Such words as prize, crown, reward, win and gain have no place in a salvation
that is by grace, through faith, without works. It is impossible for the same
believer at the same time and connected with the same thing to be confident
and yet in fear and trembling. It is specially harmful to the truth of the One
Body to attempt to teach from Philippians 3 that membership of that Body is
held out as a prize to be won. It is equally untrue to speak of the prize of
Philippians 3 as the hope of the church; for if we do, then we must also teach
that Paul, when he wrote Philippians, had not then attained membership of the
One Body, and was not certain of the blessed hope of resurrection. Leave Philippians
3 as the record of an added prize that may be won, associated with perfection
and the high calling, and all is clear.
Let us examine some of the scriptural grounds for this distinction, taking as
an example 2 Timothy 2:11-13. The subject here is twofold: living and reigning.
Living is one thing; reigning is another. Now living with Christ depends upon
our having died with Him, but reigning with Him depends upon suffering and enduring.
In the realm of life -- none can pluck us out of His hand; 'once in Him, in
Him for ever'. No member of the One Body can ever forfeit his membership. The
whole standing is by grace. We are chosen by God alone and assured of eternal
security, so that it can even be said :
'If we are unbelieving, yet He abideth faithful; He cannot deny Himself' (2 Tim. 2:13, Author's translation).
Once
having died with Him, there can be no forfeiture or loss.
'Who died for us, that, whether we be watchful or sleepy, we should live together with Him' (1 Thess. 5:10, Author's translation).
Reigning, however, is quite another matter, and depends upon enduring. In this
sphere, we can lose or forfeit. 'If we deny Him, He also will deny us'. These
words must not however be made to contradict what follows in verse 13. The contradiction
may be avoided if we distinguish the two spheres. Set out in line with the subject,
the verses appear as follows :
Another passage that demands the same discernment is 1 Corinthians 3:10-15. The foundation, Christ Himself, once laid is unalterable. No 'if' can be admitted there. What a man builds, however, on that foundation is subject to quite a different principle. He may receive a reward or he may suffer loss; but even if he should suffer loss: 'He himself shall be saved: yet as by fire'.A v. 11. If we died with Him, we shall live. Life and free grace. B v. 12. If we endure, we shall reign. B v. 12. If we deny Him, we shall be denied. Endurance and reward. A v. 13. If we are faithless, He abideth faithful. Life and free grace.