Scripture Truth magazine

388 Pages·2011·28.45 MB·English

SCRIPTURE TRUTH
THIRD ANNUAL VOLUME
==Edited by==
j. T. MAWSON and H. D. R. JAMESON
"Thy Word is Truth"
Published at 12 Paternoster Row, London. E.C.

INDEX
PAGE PAGE
Abundant Life 5 Holy Ghost, Has every Believer re·
ceived the . 64
Apocrypha, The 28[
Hundredand FortyandFourThousand 350
Appeal, An 95
"He that ministereth to you the Spirit" 352
Approbation ofthe Lord, The
Immortalityof the Soul, The 320
Appropriation (poetry)
..In the Testimony" 125
Are Believers to seek more Light?
Jehovah • 191
Atoning and other Sufferings ofChrist-
259, 291, 323 JUdging. 191
Answer to Correspondents: Justification 30
Genesis 6.3 125 Living \Vater• 96
Psalm II2. 8 . 384 Lord's Day, The 159
Psalm 119. 147, 148. 384 LowerPart!! ofthe Earth, The 191
Matthew 18. 10 223 Miscellaneous. l60
Mark 13.32 126 Musical Instruments 351
Act,> [3. 2 125 Mustard Seed, The Parable ofthe 64
I Corinthians3. [6, 17 32 New Birth, The 126
I Corinthians 12. 7-11 125 New Translation 191
Colossians 2. 12 223 "Nosin" 31
I Timothy 4. 6 125 " Overtaken in a Fault" 96
Titus 3. 14 124 Paul's Gospel 126
Hebrews [.3 . 158 Personof Christ, The 128
Jude22-23 63 Re'ititution of All Things 124
Revelation 3. 14 158 Salvation 223
Revelation 12. 223 Sanctification . 31,224
Abstainingfrom Blood 62 Savedfrom Wrath 384
As Many as be Perfect 3S1 " Saynot in thine heart" 35'
Atonement 192 Sinful Flesh and Fallen Nature 62
Baptism. 191 Sleep 190
Baptizedwith the Holy Ghost and Fire 287 Son of Godas Servant, The 158
Baptized for the Dead . 288 Ten Virgins, The • 284
Before the Presence of His Glory 159 Treading underfoot theSon ofGod 287
Burdens. Treasures ofDarkness • 288
160
" Child of the Devil" "Untoeveryonethathathshallbegiven" 288
330
Christand Him Crucified 284 Wicked Servant, The 19°
Christian Greeting • 62 Work~of the Devil, The 160
Commendation, Letters of 61 World, The 3°
Elder Son, The • Wrath ofGodabideth on him, The 286
30
Epistle tothe Romans, The 284 " Beside thestill waters" 257
Evil Doctrine .
223
Bible, The 129
Feet-washing ..
95
Bible Study-rst Epistle of John-
Genealogyofthe Lord, The. . .
160
17, 49, 79, 1[2, 146, 179, 213, 237, 275, 300,
Gentiles, The Worksof the Law in the
332,363
Glory
'" Bring me a minstrel" 149
God'sSovereignty . .
"He therefore that ministereth to you Captive Freed, The 70
theSpirit" • Chinese Prayer, A 289
HOlyScriptures, The Christianity and the World's Religions 11
Scripture Truth.
IV
I'AG~ PAL.K
Christ Everything (poetry) 384 ~ Little Maid, A 375
Coming King, The 141 Lord's Care for our State, The 258
Comparative Studies in the Synoptic Lord's Coming, The 161
Gospels 6, 58, 87, 101, 154, ]86, 2,21, 244, Love of Christ, The
282, 312, 345, 378 Love of God, The .
Conflict 290
Correspondence 76,151,184,209,24°,327,382 Master's Presence, The
" My God shall supply"
Cult of the Holy Spirit, The 353
David (poetry) 216 Nature and Character of God, The 33
Dependence (poetry) ]29 Nature and Work of the Devil, The 91
Devoted Service 307 Notes of Bible Readings-
37, 73, 130, 196, 267, 340, 356
Encouragement (poetry) 108
Not Miracles, butTruth ]19
End in View, The . 200
Eternal Retribution Obedience of theSon of God, The 5 I
Evolution, or the Reverse? Old Testament Studies 142, 172, 227, 314, 348
Ordinances 352
Faith (poetry) 226
Origin, Mission, and Destiny, Our 164
Father's Love, The 106
Outline Study in Colossians [35
Food for the Soul 20
Papers on Higher Criticism-
God our Saviour-
gB, 133, ]61, 204, 248
2I, 43, 76, II6, 174, 252, 308, 328,372 " Peace," and My Peace" . 108
1I
God that Justif1eth . 97
Person of Christ, The 5'7
" Godliness with Contentment" 294
Praise Glorifieth God (poetry) 299
Golden Preface, The 272
Praying Always 367
"Golden Vials" 367
Preaching, On 16
Good Works . 321
Prospect, The (poetry) 233
Gospel, The (poetry) 331
Great Revival, A- Reading the Scriptures, On 33
25,41, 109, 182,234,316, 368 Remarkable Discovery, A 72
Hebron • 13 Scriptures, The 226
,.He leadeth me" 193 Scripture Notes 65
He gave Gifts 295 Service, On 208
Hitherto. 384 Song ofThose who are Alive to God-
HolyScriptures and Creation, The 243 (poetry) 344
Honour the Lord with thy Substance 208 Spirit of Christianity, The 52
Hope (poetry) 353 Substitutes for the Gospel 233
In Christ 168, 229 ,.Thou art with me" 225
Is there not a Cause? 359 11 Thy lovingkindness.. (poetry) 301
Trading for an Absent Lord 66
Jericho 56
Type and Antitype 168
Jesus Shewing Himself 355
Judgment Seat of Christ, The ]67 Ulterior Aims of Spiritualism. 303
Keep out the Little Errors 200 Walk according to this Rule 242
'"Keep yourselvesinthe love ofGod" 48 We Know(poetry) 313
King of Kings (poetry) 41 Winning Souls, On 263, 362
Word of Exhortation, A 280
Last Psalm, The 343
Worthy and Inexhaustible Subject, A .j.o
Live in Peace 201
Living for Christ and with Christ 193 Zion
Scripture Truth.
===o...::.=~-c=
Make me to understand the way of thy precepts: so shall I talk of thy wondrous
works (Ps. II9. 27).
GOD has an absolute title to be All true ministry brings us into closer
supremein thelivesofHiscreatures, acquaintance with what God says to
and He expresses His authority im us.
mediately by His \Vord. Therein we
Our first and all-ruling relationship
are instructed as to theruleand measure
is with God by the Word. It has pre
of our responsibility, and as to the
cedence of all others, and claims
grace in Christ, and the power in the
absolute and immediate subjection.
Spirit bywhich alone we can fulfil every
\VE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD
relationship in which He has placed us. U
rather than men," is the absolute claim
Our object is to turn the attention
of God, who has revealed Himself fully
more completely to the \Vord of God,
and reveals Himself immediately to us
sa that we may have a fuller under~
by the Word.
standing of His will. Nothing can take
the place of the Scripture those who If the issue of Scripture Truth during
j
are instructed in its truths may be able the coming year produces results of
to help us by the ministry of them in this kind; if our eyes are more widely
their varied character, but this ministry opened to behold wondrous things in
will put us more immediately into His law; and we prove through grace
touch with God by His Word, or it is that His commandments are not griev.
no help at all. ous, our end will be gained.
The Love of Christ.
(H. NUNNERLEY).
THE
LOVE OF CHRIST! Who and precious thing to a man is his life;
can set it forth? It is a love that all that he has he will part with to re
passeth knowledge, and yet we are to tain it. But Jesusgave up His l(fe! The
know it. Yesterday it was expressed Son of God loved and gave Hl/11selj!
on the cross, to-day it is expressed in Here is love indeed! Pen fails to
glory. Told out in death, it abides in describe it, tongue to utter it, mind to
life continuous and unchanging. conceive it, yet how blessedly true and
real it is.
Behold its devotedness in what He
up.
gave as well as in what He Ifavc Pause-sayto yourself-the SON OF
GOD loved me. Me! A worthless
Rich in glory, angel and archangel
being likeme. Ah! here is the wonder
esteeming it an honour to do His
of it: there was not a single thing in
bidding, co-equal with the Father,
me to draw out His love, and yet He
Supreme and glorious, He willingly,
has loved me with a love so devoted
voluntarily, left all His wealth behind
that He emptied Himself to enrich me,
and came a homeless stranger into the
and died to possess me.
World of His own creation became
p~or
in order to enrich us. ' Nor did lt was this love that so won and
HIS love stop there. The most valued captivated Paul's heart, so completely
1
2 Scripture Truth.
enthralled him, that, bowed in adora world, He loves with an unchanging
tion at His feet, he lived by the faith love to the end.
of the Son of God; his whole soul was
We may change, forget Himl turn
bou.ud by the chains of love to a living
awaYl fail to respond to His affection,
~a~lOur, but. he never forgot that the
so that He may be compelled to re
hvmg One dted for him. He speaks as
proach us with having left our first
though there were not another sinner in
love, but He never leaves His "first
the world, so absorbed was he with
love, that knows no change, no varia~
this precious fact.
tion it is the one affection which is
j
This personal intimacy we greatly
unalterable. It may suffer-and suffer
need to cultivate. Let us lay our heads
long-but it will be kind; it may have
on th~ ~osom of Jesus and say, I am
II to rebuke its. obje~t, but it earnestly
~he chsClple whom Jesus loves." This
remembers hIm stIlI. It craves the
not presumption it is true humility.
15 j early freshness of reciprocal love and
Peter thought of his love to Christ,
recalls the kindness of youth when in
John rested in Christ's love to him.
the first blush of salvation we gave
Our love is not worth speaking of. If
Him the full strength of our new
we love Him at all, it is because He
born affection, for in Him there is no
first loved us.
variableness; His love is unaffected
If you would have your soul en
by our neglect, though deeply feeling
thralled, bowed in adoration at the
that neglect.
feet of the Son of God, and over~
The one sure and certain thing upon
whelmed with the greatness of this
~hich our souls can confidently rest
love, turn your thoughts to Calvary,
IS that Jesus Christ is the same yester
gaze upon that holy Sufferer on the
day, to-day, and for ever; the same
central cross, contemplate the utter
eternal Lover of our souls, who died
desolation of that blessed One as He
f?r us yesterday on the cross, and
cried out of the thick darkness, "lIIy
lIves for us to-day in glory. To what
God, lIfy God, wlty hast Thou forsaken
shall we compare His love? It is a.
Me?" Linger there, whilst in spirit
sun which is always shining, an ocean
you travel back to Gethsemane, ·where
ever full, a fountain ever springing.
the dread anticipation of Golgotha
~et us bask in its sunshine, delight in
caused that bloody sweat of soul
ItS ocean fulness, drink of its living
agony. Now return to the place of
water. It is a mighty river, beariner
a skull, where the most solemn trans t~
on its broad bosom our tiny vessels
action in time or eternity took place.
Ollr eternal home; it is a mine of
There God-the thrice holy God
wealth, richly rewarding the one who
abandoned His Son, when He, the
seeks its treasures.
sinless .One, having voluntarily taken
our gUIlt, bore the full weight of the Nor is it only in death we learn His
judgment due to it. love. Jesus who died is alive again.
Linger there till your whole soul is He sits enthroned in glory, seraphim
absorbed, overpowered with the im and cherubim, angels and archangel
The~
mensity of the fact that the SON OF bowing in homage at His feet.
GOD loved and gave HIMSELFfor me. reverence Him, the Man Christ Jesus,
for all the fulness of the Godhead
Like a spring tide the love of Christ
dwells in Him bodily. They own Him
rose to its full height at the cross but
~ever Jehovah's equal, glorified again with
the height to which it rose will
the Father, as before all worlds, and
ebb, it is <l; tidal wave as full to-day as
to Him they rightfully accord divine
ever. It IS eternal and. unchanging j
honours.
the cross expressed HIS love in its
fulness, a~c1 His love abides, for having Have those glories so absorbed Him
loved HIS own which were in the that He forgets H His own" passing
Scripture Truth. 3
through the sorrows of the world? upon you, and has counted no cost too
Ask the disciple who once leaned .on dear to purchase you.
His bosom, but is now the compamon
You are to Him the rose of Sharon ;
of transgressors in the rock-girt and
you are part of the pearl of great price
wave-tossed isle of Patmos. Is he
for which He sold all that He had.
disconsolate, overwhelmed, unhappy?
Herein is expressed His love for His
No! WhY? He is solaced by the
bride. Contemplate it, dwell upon it ;
love of Christ; he can say, That love
H He loves you with the ardent affec
has made me a priest to His God and
tion of a bridegroom as \vell as with
Father, and my glad heart says, •To
the pitying love of a Saviour.
Him be glory and dominion for ever
A David, a John Baptist, will be as
and ever!' (Rev. I. 6). I am still the
J much indebted to the redeeming work
disciple whom eSlts loves, persecution
has not separated me from His love." of Christ as a Christian i but never
forget that you are loved with a love
Ask Paul and Silas as they lie stock
to which they were strangers. Their
bound and \\'ith lacerated backs in the
part will be to rejoice as friends at the
inner prison at Philippi, " Does Christ
marriage of the Lamb; yours to be the
still love you?" They will answer, In
11 happy bride, the eternal object of a
all these things we are more than con
love set forth by the marriage tie. For
querors through Him that loved us."
the church ChrIst slept the deep sleep
That love enables them to make the J
of death likeAdam,andtoiled like acob
prison ring again with His praises.
in his twice seven years (lovely picture
Perhaps some backslidersays, " I have of Christ's pastand presentservice). He
forfeited Hislove because of unfaithful· purchased and redeemed her like Boaz,
ness on my part." Ask Peter if his de lifted her out of her distance and
fection changed Christ's affection. He degradation like the Ethiopian wife of
will answer" No. My failure made me Moses, and will soon seat her on His
wretched, miserable, unhappy; but He throne to share His Gentile supremacy
verygraciouslywashed my feet, probed and universal monarchy, like the brides
J
me to the bottom, then restored to me of Solomon and oseph.
the joy I had lost, and, wonder of
She will share the throne of His
wonders! when I could not trust my
glory during the millennial day of dis
self, He entrusted me with the dearest
play, and, better still, will engage His
objects of His heart, the lambs and
affections during ages unending.
sheep of His flock. Was ever love
like His! " Behold the church descending when
the eternal day has commenced,
Nor is this love alone one of pity
adorned as a bride for her husband,
and compassion to us individually.
as fully loved as when He cleansed
Travel backagain to Golgotha, behold
and sanctified her, presented her with
that holy Sufferer. Why does He die?
out spot or blemish, all glorious at tlrst.
Why does He not by an act of power
Loved to the end without an end.
deliver Himself? Listen I Christ loved
What Rebekah was to Isaac the
the church and gave Himself for it.
church is to Christ; she will be His
That redeemed company, whom He
comfort and joy, the loved one given
has set His love upon, He gave up His
Him of the Father for His own satis
l!fe to possess; and you-fellow be
faction, His eternal delight in the
lIever--are part of that church for
paradise of God.
Which He died; one of those for
No wonder Paul stopped in the
Whom He poured out His life's blood.
middle of the heights and depths of
Why?
the revelations of the epistle to
.Because you are indispensable to Ephesus, amazed at the greatness of
HIS happiness, He has set His heart that wonderful love, and with bowed
Scripture Truth.
4
knees desired that the saints of God ever lives to make intercession for us
might kttow the love of Christ which and save us through everything-to the
passeth knowledge. . vetyend.
Let us join in that prayer, for which
This is a love which has set us
qf us can say I have measured the im
nearer to the Father's heart, given us
measurable, I have plumb-lined the
a more intimate place in the Son's
bottom of that ocean? Rather let us
affections than the brightest angel.
say, Grant that we may know, day by
11
day, more of that love which will be
This is a love which brought the
our eternal delight and unending joy."
Son of the Highest into the place of
This is a love which stoops in the lowest, that vacated a throne for
priestly grace and timely help to the a cross, travelled from the heights of
necessities of our wilderness journey, glory to thedepths of Calvary-for you
and in restoring grace if we have -for me. Was there ever love like
departed from the right path; for Jesus this?
" The Son ofGed, who loved me, and gave Himselffor me" (Gal. 2. 20).
,\ Able to keep you from falling, and to present youfaultless before the presence.; oj
His glory with exceedingjoy" (Jude 24).
This hath He done, and shall we not adore Him?
This shall He do, and can we still despair?
Come, let us quickly fling ourselves before Him,
Cast at His feet the burden of our care.
Flash from our eyes the glow of our thanksgiving.
Glad and regretful, confident and calm,
Then through all life and what is after living,
Thrill to the tireless music of a psalm.
Yea, thro' life, thro' death, th1'o' sorrow and thro' sinning
He shall suffice us, for He hath sufficed;
Christ is the end, for Christ is the beginning,
Christ the beginning, for the end is Chri~t (F. W. H. ~Uyers).
Those who serve the Lord might Reserves are the can.~er of Christian
learn a valuable lesson from a certain sincerity. A partial obedience will
Highland shepherd. His sheep gener never satisfy a child of God. The ex
ally took the best prizes at the clusion of any word of God from its
shows, and when asked to account supreme regard in the heart is the
for this he said, ~l I look weel to the brand of hypocrisy. Even Herod could
lambs." It is good to do this, for do many things, yet one evil way
if we are to rejoice at the sight of cherished, and therefore unforsaken,
sturdyChristiansable towithstand, and was sufficient to show the sovereign
I
having done all, to stand, the lambs power of sin undisturbed within. Saul
must be fed and cherished. But to do slew all the Amalekites but one; and
this aright we must have the spirit and that single exception in the path of
tenderness of heart of Him who feeds obedience marked the unsoundness of
His flock like a shepherd, who gathers his profession, cost him his throne, and
the lambs with His arm, and carries brought him under the awful displea
them in His bosom (Isa. 40. I I). sure of God.
s
Abundant Life.
(F. B. HOLE).
THE Lord Jesus came that we might bearsanothersense now. Ifyou went to
have abundant life (John la. la). the Royal Academy to see a picture by
This is more than mere existence. We a foremost artist entitled Life," what
11
use the word "life" in two ways in would you expect to see? An invalid
ordinary conversation. You go, for reclining upon a couch? No. You
instance, to visit a friend who is, you would expect to see portrayed youth,
hear, far from well. Inthe hall a nurse vitality, vigour, enjoyment. A rudely
in uniform meets you, and you are boy in the full glow of health bounding
shocked to hear he is hanging between gleefully along the golden summer
life and death. Just for a moment you sandswould be nearer the mark. YOll
are allowed to stand in the darkened would say "That is LIFE 1"
room. There is the unconscious form
I came that they may have life and
of your friend. A medical mCln stands 11
may have itabundantly" (R.v.). Such is
by the bedside feeling his pulse. Doc
11
our portion. Not invalid life. Nat ex
tor," you anxiously inquire, is there
U
istence merely. Thank God we have
life?" Yes." Is there any hope?"
(l 11 spiriteal existence, but we have more.
"Not much, but while there is life
Spiritual vitality, spiritual vigour, spiri
there is hope, you know."
tualenjoyment-these things areours in
Now let me stand by your side and, the risen Shepherd who once in His
pointing to that scene, ask, "Is that goodness laid down His life for the
LIFE?" What will you say? The word sheep.
The Obedience of the Son of God.
THE
Son of God, according to the well-spring of His heart. He was
eternalcounsel, cameinto the world refreshed and not exhausted by doing
to be obedient unto the will of God, the will of the Father that sent Him.
even unto death. " La, I come to do Thy
And yet Jesus learned obedience, as
will." Hisobediencewas characterized
He Himself said, 1'1 came . .. not to do
throughout by such continuity, liberty,
Mine 0'0..'11 Luill." He who is LORD, in
and inward delight that \ve are apt to
finite in power and glory, was made
forget that aspect of His life on which
flesh; and with a sinless human will,
the Apostle dwells when he says,
amid the toil and temptation incident
Though He 'were a Son, yet lcarned
'I to humanity, He continually submitted
Hc obedicnce by the thillbS which He
Himself to God His Father. Real and
suffered" (Heb. 5. 8):
great were His difficulties, temptations,
The Lord Jesus was always doing and sorrows; and from the prayers
the things which pleased the Father. and complaints ascribed to Messiah in
There was no break or hesitation, no the psalms and the prophets we can
pansc or retrogression in His path; it undersland somewhat of the burden
Was the path of the just Man, which is which weighed on His loving andsensi
as the shining light, which shineth tive heart. In constant dependence He
more and more unto the perfect day. leaned on the Father, and drew from
A~cl as it was continuous, so it seemed Him light and strength ; His was the
WIlhout an effort, flowing forth abun path of faith; He lived not merely
dantly and spontaneouslyout of the full before, but ~y the Father (A. Saphir).
6
Comparative Studies in the Synoptic GospeIs.-No.
1.
Questions and Comments from our readers are invited in connection
with these Studies.
THE intention is to compare, as far our Lord is presented to us in His
as space will permit, the Gospels of personal glory: the Word become flesh,
Matthew, Mark, and Luke; to show that to reveal God to men in all the fulness of
these records where they seem to be His nature and character. This Gospel
contradictory are in reality not so, but must form the sUbject-matter of future
in perfect harmony with that character in studies-if God will; it is not our
which our LordJesus is presented in each. purpose to take it up now, though
There is no discord in the divinely given reference may often be made to it.
volume, and every separate part is in
May the Holy Ghost, whose blessed
full accord with the whole, though each
mission it is to take of the things of
is complete in itself, bearing its own
Christ and show them to us, open our
distinctive character, \vhich must not be
eyes to see at least some of the unveiled
broken in upon as is the case when the
excellence of the Son of God, and impress
mistake is made of attempting to
our souls anew with the unerring wisdom
mechanically" harmonize" the records.
and perfection revealed in the written
The Gospel of John stands alone; in it Word.
The Genealogies-Matthew and Luke.
MATTHEW presents the Lord as Son of (chap. I. I I), and there is then unfolded
David and of Abraham: the MESSIAH OF in that Gospel that which had not been
ISRAEL. His Gospel may be called the the subject of prophecy.
Gospel of the kingdom, but the King is
not merely Son of David and Son of The Writers.
Abraham, but JESUS-]ehovah the Israel was no longer underits own king,
Saviour: EMMANUEL-God with us and that Matthe\vshould have beena tax
(chap. I. 21, 23)· gatherer (Matt. 9.9), actually an officLll
MARK presents the Lord as the Servant under the alien rule, but evidences the
of God: the great and perfect SERVANT- divine wisdom which selects him to write
PROPHET; but " Jesus Christ" is " the the Gospel of the King.
Son of God" (chap. I. I). Mark, the failing servant (Acts 13. 13 ;
l LUKE presents the Lord as the SON OF 15.38), is sel.ected to write the GospC'i
MAN revealing the delivering grace of \vhich presents the perfect Servant. Ho\\"
God amongst men; but of this Man it grace shines in this!
was said, "He shall be great, and He Luke was a Gentile (Col. 4. 1I, 14).
shall be called the Son of the Highest," How fitting then that he should write
and "that Holy Thing which shall be the Gospel in which Christ is pre
born of thee shall be called the SON OF eminently presented in the perfection of
GOD" (chap. I. 32, 35)· His manhood,' and so as the vessel of
In this threefold character He was grace for all. (EDS.)
presented to Israel for their acceptance,
and in each character was rejected by Matthew has the first place rightly,
them. They had nO excuse for this, for it was offirst importance that the One
for His words and works, as recorded in in whom all the promise3 of God centred
each Gospel, were the fulfilment of the should be presented to the nation as the
Scriptures which had before borne witness fulfilment of them in His own person,
to the fact that He would appear to them and prepared to establish all those pro
in each of these ways. mises ac once if received by the nation.
JOHN is entirely different; there the Far wider purposes of blessing would
Lord is viewed as rejeeted from the start result from His rejection; but first