Part 8 (1/2)
These requirements are evidently heavenly in character, and demand nothing less than that which is becoming to that sphere. They are, therefore, beyond human strength; for what human power is able to ”give thanks always for all things”? Or to avoid grieving the Holy Spirit? Who can be filled with the Spirit, or rejoice in tribulation? In fact, these demands are often treated as impractical ideals, rather than present requirements; while in reality they are binding on every child of G.o.d.
To fail in them at any point, will not unsave one (Ps. 130:3; Rom. 4:5); but that failure will profane the heavenly citizens.h.i.+p, dishonor G.o.d in whose grace he is standing (Rom. 5:2), and give the enemy occasion to accuse the brethren before G.o.d; for Satan judges the Christian on the basis of the heavenly ideals rather than the standards of earth. No one can contemplate these impossible responsibilities without a sense of utter helplessness and insufficiency.
Again, the believer must not only meet the impossible demands of a heavenly position, but he is called upon to face a world-ruling foe, who, with all his kingdom and power, is seeking to break and mar that life into which the Divine nature has been received. The revelation that Satan is going about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, presents a truth that should disarm the believer of all self-confidence and cause him to dread, above all things else, the subtle devices of this foe. In this connection Eph. 6:10-12 may well be restated: ”Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of His might. Put on the whole armor of G.o.d, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the princ.i.p.alities, against the powers, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual host of wickedness in the heavenlies.” In view of this opposition of Satan, it is still more evident that the requirements of the Christian life are beyond any human power.
So, also, there is a fallen human nature within the child of G.o.d, which is p.r.o.ne to dishonor G.o.d, and is itself beyond the control of the human will. This important and much misunderstood truth is taken up at length in Rom. 7:14-25: ”For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh), dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of G.o.d after the inward man: but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank G.o.d through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of G.o.d; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
This battle between the old nature and the new is, then, never gained for G.o.d by human power or by religious exercise: but through Christ alone.
Thus the believer is confronted with a threefold impossibility as he contemplates his heavenly responsibility. First: The heavenly position demands a manner of life that is beyond any human possibility. Second: The enemy is stronger than he, and can thwart every resolution. Third: His own fallen nature entices him to do positive evil when he would do good. Notwithstanding this threefold impossibility, there is a clear call to a victorious life, wherein every thought is brought into captivity to the obedience of Jesus Christ (II Cor. 10:5), and if he fails by one degree, he will dishonor the G.o.d who has called him.
Where, then, is the relief from this dilemma? It is found only in the power of G.o.d. He has provided a complete salvation from the dominion and power of evil, which is a real victory--the only victory for the believer in this present life and conflict. It is a second form or tense of salvation, for it is possible to be saved from the condemnation and penalty of sin, and still for a time to be under its dominion and power.
Salvation from the power of the world, the flesh, and the devil, may be secured as freely and completely as the salvation from the penalty of sin, and on the same terms; yet its terms and conditions are so unlike the methods of the world that often it seems unreal, even to Christians.
No instructed person expects to be free from condemnation, or justified before G.o.d, by virtue of his moral character; nor can there be freedom from the power of sin by virtue of the resolutions of the human will.
Though the Christian life is impossible to human strength, it is within the power of G.o.d; and He offers to supply all that He requires, even to a completely victorious life. Since it is necessarily a Divine undertaking, the human part can be no more than an att.i.tude of expectation or faith toward G.o.d,--an att.i.tude which reckons self to be helpless, and G.o.d alone to be sufficient. It is a perpetual realization of the principle of faith and, therefore, at every point, contradicts Satan's principle of self-help.
Here, as in every human effort to be G.o.d-like, Satan's ideals and methods are so thrust upon the world that the natural dependence of the creature upon the Creator is made to seem a weak and unreasonable thing.
This worldly mind has found a place in the Church and to a large extent, in spite of the teachings of Scripture; and it is often as difficult to inspire true expectation toward G.o.d in the Christian mind in the matter of daily victory, as it is to move the self-righteous and self-sufficient sinner to believe on Christ for regeneration.
True dependence upon the sufficiency of G.o.d is thus born of a vision of the utter inability of the natural man to meet the demands of the heavenly citizens.h.i.+p. The world citizen may wrestle against flesh and blood to realize his moral ideals: but he has no heavenly standards to fulfill; no mighty foe to face; and no conflict of natures. Therefore, his low ideals may often be reached by virtue of his own resolution and will. Especially will this method be adequate for the unregenerate, as the energizing power of Satan is working in him to cause him both to will and to do the purpose of Satan (Eph. 2:2): but the faith principle is the only possible way to victory for the child of G.o.d; and it must be faith alone.