EXTRACTS
You begin by loving the brethren, but then you are built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood; then to you that believe is the preciousness. That is, as we get increasing light as to Christ, we become knit together; the bond is increased as we get more light in regard of Christ. We thus get not only the Christian circle, but we get the spiritual house, the one priesthood, the one generation and one nation; the bond is strengthened.... The more apprehension we get of Christ, the greater the effect in binding us together, and the more unity is promoted. When divisions come in amongst us and we are broken up, it has not indicated increasing light with regard to Christ, for light in regard to Christ tends to build up and unite. These Jews had an apprehension of the Christian circle, they loved the brethren unfeignedly, and they were a spiritual house, a chosen generation; it tended in the direction of promoting unity. It is a very important principle that light does not tend to disintegration but to unity, and I believe that is the true way of unity. We all beholding the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image (see 2 Cor 3: 18). The effect is produced upon all of us; we all feel it. It brings us together, and nothing else will. There is only one house and one priesthood. The Spirit produces an apprehension of Christ, and it tends in the direction of unity, and the effect is that God shines out..... Unless we are in the reality of our relation to Christ and of the Christian circle in unity, we cannot go out rightly in our individual path in this world.
(F.E.Raven: New Series No.4, pp.41,42)
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May we live more as those who will meet one another in glory.
(J.B.Stoney: New Series No.8, p.452)
THE CHILDREN'S FORGIVENESS
It has been said that the words in every European language which express pardon or forgiveness all imply a free gift. The reason that God gave for blotting out the sins of His people was "for mine own sake", and we know that God is love. It is neither any goodness in man that makes Him willing, nor does the evil in man make Hm unwilling to forgive. A free confession finds a free pardon and a further experience of the loving-kindness of God.
"Our God will abundantly pardon" surely is a full forgiveness. It is very wonderful that our sins have been a means of drawing out the resources of love and wisdom in the blessed God. Faith accepts this and glories in it. What we speak of as atonement is the righteous covering over of sins by the blood of Jesus which cleanses from all sin just as the snow covers ugliness with purity. Remission of our sins as believers relates to the precious fact that the burden of them was 'carried away' when He bore on the cross the judgment due to us. But besides these - blessings the known forgiveness of the God against whom we have sinned is something even more personal and intimate.
Forgiveness is also final because of the words of the loving and aged apostle John: "I write unto you, children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake". This is the assured condition of every Christian by virtue of the name and renown of Jesus. It would include the "little children" to whom he writes other things also. The gift of the Holy Spirit to the obedient believer and the words of Scripture should preserve us from sinning after conversion. Even if there should be such failure, provision has been made before the Father in the person of Jesus Christ at His right hand. Do you know Him as one who cares constantly for you?
J.C.Evershed