THE AFFLICTIONS OF THE GOSPEL

CAN THEY BE KNOWN NOW?

Some have said, ‘No! for times have changed’. And in reading the above words from 2 Timothy 1, we must notice the immensity of the change which has taken place since they were penned. They came as we know from the pen of a poor deserted prisoner at Rome—Rome—who was then the mistress of the world. In that character, Rome has long ago disappeared, but the gospel of which her despised prisoner spoke has obtained a footing everywhere in the known world, the nations who have succeeded Rome professing and taking her place as the great of the earth.

The change I think cannot be denied, but can we therefore avoid the present application of these words and of this exhortation? “Suffer evil along with the glad tidings” (2 Tim 1: 8 NT) is, as I think, a present word from God to every faithful servant.

What was Paul’s gospel? I think the true answer to this question will show that though there has been in this world since he wrote apparently the reception of the gospel of which he spoke, there remains the most bitter animosity and hatred to it.

Paul’s gospel not only declared the eternal removal from the eye of God of all the “offences” by the death of Christ (see the first part of Romans, to chap 5: 11). It also declared the eternal removal, in that judgment of the cross, of the man, the sinner who committed them (see the second part of the epistle to the Romans, from chap 5: 12 to chap 8: 4); and further the substitution of another man before God—a new man and a new race in Him—the “second man, out of heaven”, 1 Cor 15: 47 NT, see also Rom 8: 2, 9, 30.

This was Paul’s gospel and it was well known to Timothy. “Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me”, 2 Tim 3: 10, 11. Here again occurs this word—“afflictions”, and here again follows a similar word to this devoted servant, a word as true now as then: “and all indeed who desire to live piously in Christ Jesus will be persecuted”, v 12 NT.

Has the “offence” (the scandal) of the cross ceased? It would appear that it has, if we may judge by the popularity of the gospel in some places in so-called Christian England, but that popularity appears to obtain because the truth of the cross is not fully known, or, if known, is not (for fear of losing popularity) fully preached. Presenting that part of the truth which relieves the conscience from a fear of the penalty due to its sins—a penalty which is generally spoken of as future—meets with little or no opposition from man. It does not touch his present standing as a man on the earth, but allows him to live on in it; and it places him therefore who preaches it in no “afflictions”.

But it has been truly said, ‘the present judgment of God is resting on man’, God having accepted another Man—a second—is it not clear that He must reject the first?

It is when we not only “know” the doctrine which Paul taught, but when we preach it, and live (manner of life) as though we knew it, allowing the first man in ourselves—the natural man unrefined or refined—no place here, because he has been eternally set aside by the judgment of God, that we become positively offensive to him. It is when in our preaching (do the work of an evangelist) we bring in another Man, in whom is all God’s delight, that we shall understand a little not only of afflictions, but also of the immensity of the privilege which is conferred by God upon any one in days of laxity like these, that he should be a “partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God”, 2 Tim 1: 8.

How little do some of us know of such a life in this world! Partaker of “the afflictions of the gospel”! On the other hand, what an honour to be found in any feeble measure in this path of the rejected One and in that of His devoted follower Paul! “As unknown, and yet well known” 2 Cor 6: 9. “If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15: 20), for “the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not”, 1 John 3: 1. Would that we were more acquainted with its rejection.

If times have changed, and they have, man is in no wise changed, nor has the truth of God changed the gospel, which we have been considering. May we have grace to declare it boldly and fully, in dependence upon Him, and covet to “suffer evil along with the glad tidings” (2 Tim 1: 8 NT) in these days of the popular toleration of all except the second Man, for His Name’s sake.

From A Voice to the Faithful—vol 29, 1895