The Scriptures And The Promises # 2

 The Scriptures And The Promises # 2

How terrible, then, is the blindness and how great is the sin of those preachers who indiscriminately apply the Divine promises to the saved and unsaved alike! They are not only taking "the children's bread" and casting it to the "dogs" - but they are "handling the Word of God deceitfully." (2 Corinthians 4:2), and beguiling immortal souls!

And those who listen to and heed them are little less guilty, for god holds all responsible to search the Scriptures for themselves, and test whatever they read or hear by the unerring standard. If they are too lazy to do so, and prefer blindly to follow their blind guides - then their blood is on their own heads. Truth has to be "bought (Proverbs 23:23), and those who are unwilling to pay the price must go without it.

2. We profit from the Word when we labor to make the promises of God our own. To do this we must first take the trouble to become really acquainted with them. It is surprising how many promises there are in Scripture which the saints know nothing about - the more so seeing that they are the peculiar treasure of believers, the substance of faith's heritage lying in them. True, Christians are already the recipients of wondrous blessings - yet the capital of their heavenly wealth and the bulk of their glorious estate, is only prospective. They have already received a "pledge," but the better part of what Christ has purchased for them lies yet in the promise of God. How diligent, then, should they be in studying His testamentary will, familiarizing themselves with the good things which the Spirit "has revealed" (1 Corinthians 2:10), and seeking to take an inventory of their spiritual treasures!

Not only must I search the Scriptures to find out what has been made over to me by the everlasting covenant, but I need also to meditate upon the promises, to turn them over and over in my mind, and cry unto the Lord for spiritual understanding of them. The bee would not extract honey from the flowers as long as he only gazed upon them. Nor will the Christian derive any real comfort and strength from the Divine promises until his faith lays hold of and penetrates to the heart of them. God has given no assurance that the slothful shall be fed, but He has declared, "the soul of the diligent shall be made fat" (Proverbs 13:4). Therefore did Christ say, "Labor not for the food which perishes, but for that food which endures unto everlasting life." (John 6:27). It is only as the promises are stored up in our minds, that the Spirit brings them to remembrance at those seasons of fainting when we most need them.

3. We profit from the Word when we recognize the blessed scope of God's promises. "A sort of affectation prevents some Christians from seeking religion, as if its sphere lay among the commonplaces of  daily life. It is to them transcendental and dreamy; rather a creation of pious fiction than a matter of fact. They believe in God, after a fashion, for things spiritual, and for the life which is to be; but they totally forget that true godliness has the promise of the life which now is, as well as that which is to come. To them it would seem almost profanation to pray about the small matters of which daily life is made up. Perhaps they will be startled if I venture to suggest that this should make them question the realoity of their faith. If it  cannot bring them help in the little troubles of life, will it support them in the greater trials of death?" (Spurgeon).

"Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promises of the life that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8). Reader, do you really believe this, that the promises of God cover every aspect and particular of your daily life? Or have the dispensationalists deluded you into supposing that the Old Testament belongs only to fleshly Jews, and that "our promises" respect spiritual and not material blessings? How many a Christian has derived comfort from "I will never leave you, nor forsake you" (Hebrews 13:5); well, that is a quotation from Joshua 1:5! So, too, 2 Corinthians 7:1 speaks of "having these promises," yet one of them, referred to in 2 Corinthians 6:18 is taken from the book of Leviticus!

Perhaps someone asks, "But where am I to draw the line? Which of the Old Testament promises rightfully belong to me?" We answer that Psalm 84:11 declares, "The Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will be withheld from those who walk uprightly." If you are really walking uprightly you are entitled to appropriate that blessed promise and count upon the Lord giving you whatever "good thing" is truly required by you. "My God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus!" (Phil. 4:19). If then there is a promise anywhere in His Word which just fits your present case and situation - then make it your own as suited to your need. Steadfastly resist every attempt of satan to rob you of any portion of your Father's Word.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 3)

The Scriptures And The Promises # 1

 The Scriptures And The Promises # 1

The Divine promises make known the good pleasure of God's will to His people to bestow upon them the riches of His grace. They are the outward testimonies of His heart, who from all eternity loves them and fore-appointed all things for them and concerning them. In the person and work of His Son, God has made an all-sufficient provision for their complete salvation, both for time and for eternity. To the intent that they might have a true, clear and spiritual knowledge of the same, it has pleased the Lord to set it before them in the exceeding great and precious promises which are scattered up and down in the Scriptures as so many stars in the glorious firmament of grace. By these precious promises, they may be assured of the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning them, and take sanctuary in Him accordingly, and through this medium have real communion with Him in His grace and mercy at all times, no matter what their case or circumstances may be.

The Divine promises are so many declarations to bestow some good, or remove some ill. As such they are a most blessed making known and manifesting of God's love to His people. There are three steps in connection with God's love:

first, His inward purpose to exercise it; the last, the real execution of that purpose; but in between there is the gracious making known of that purpose to the beneficiaries not only show His love fully to them in due time, but in the interim He will have us informed of His benevolent designs, that we may sweetly rest in His love, and stretch ourselves comfortably upon His sure promises. Thee we are able to say, "How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them" (Psalm 139:17).

In 2 Peter 1:4 the Divine promises are spoken of as "exceedingly great and precious." As Spurgeon pointed out, "greatness and preciousness seldom go together, but in this instance they are united in an exceeding degree." When Jehovah is pleased to open His mouth and reveal His heart, He does so in a manner worthy of Himself, in words of superlative power and richness. To quote again the beloved London pastor:

"They come from a great God,

they come to great sinners, 

they work for us great results,

and deal with great matters."

While the natural intellect is capable of perceiving much of their greatness - only the renewed heart can taste their ineffable preciousness, and say with David, "How sweet are your words unto my taste! yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103).

1. We profit from the Word when we perceive to whom the promises belong. They are available only to those who are in Christ. "For all the promises of God in Him (the Lord Jesus) are yes, and in Him. Amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20). There can be no communion between the thrice holy God and sinful creatures, except through a Mediator who has satisfied Him on their behalf. Therefore must that Mediator receive from God all good for His people, and they must have it at second hand through Him. A sinner might just as well petition a tree, as call upon God for mercy while he despises and rejects Christ.

Both the promises and the things promised, are made over to the Lord Jesus and conveyed unto the saints from Him. "This is the chief and grandest promise that he has promised us, even eternal life" (1 John 2:25); and as the same epistle tells us, "This life is in His Son" (1 John 5:11).

This being so, what good can they who are not yet in Christ have by the promises? None at all. A man out of Christ is out of favor of God, yes, he is under His wrath; the Divine threatenings and not the promises, are his portion. Solemn, solemn consideration is it that those who are "without Christ" and "and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12). Only "the children of God" are "the children of the promise" (Romans 9:8). Make sure, my reader, that you are one of them.

~A. W. Pink~

(continued with # 2)

The Knowledge Of God # 2

 The Knowledge Of God # 2

There is no danger of the individual saint being overlooked amidst the multitude of supplicants who daily and hourly present their various petitions, for an infinite Mind is as capable of paying the same attention to millions, as if only one individual were seeking its attention.

So too, the lack of appropriate language, the inability to give expression to the deepest longing of the soul - will not jeopardize our prayers, for "It shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear." (Isaiah 65:24).

"Great is our Lord, and of great power! His understanding is infinite" (Psalm 147:5). God not only knows whatever has happened in the past in every part of His vast domains, and He is not only thoroughly acquainted with everything that is now transpiring throughout the entire universe - but He is also perfectly cognizant of every event, from the least to the greatest, that ever will happen in the ages to come.

God's knowledge of the future is as complete as is His knowledge of the past, and the the present - and that, because the future depends entirely upon Himself. Were it in any ways possible for something to occur apart from either the direct agency or permission of God, then that something would be independent of Him, and He would at once cease to be Supreme.

Now the divine knowledge of the future is not a mere abstraction, but something which is inseparably connected with and accompanied by His purpose. God Himself designed whatever shall yet be, and what He has designed must be effectuated. As His most sure Word affirms, "He does according to His will in the army of Heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay His hand" (Daniel 4:35). And again, "There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the Lord, that shall stand" (Proverbs 19:21).

The wisdom and power of God being alike infinite, the accomplishment of whatever He has purposed is absolutely guaranteed. It is more possible for the divine counsels to fail in their execution than it would be for the thrice holy God to lie!

Nothing relating to the future is in any way uncertain so far as the actualization of God's counsels are concerned. None of His decrees are left contingent either on creatures or secondary causes. There is no future event which is only a mere possibility. "Known unto God are all His works from the beginning" (Acts 5:18). Whatever God has decreed is inexorably certain.

The perfect knowledge of God is exemplified and illustrated in every prophecy recorded in His Word. Such prophecies could only have been given by One who knew the end from the beginning.

It should be pointed out, however, that neither God's knowledge nor His cognition of the future, considered simply in themselves, are causative. Nothing has ever come to pass, or ever will, merely because God knew it. The cause of all things is the will of God. 

A word or two by way of APPLICATION. The infinite knowledge of God should fill us with amazement. How far exalted above the wisest man is the Lord! None of us knows what a day may bring forth, but all futurity is open to His omniscient gaze. The infinite knowledge of God ought to fill us with holy awe. Nothing we do, say, or even think, escapes the cognizance of Him with whom we have to do. "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good" (Proverbs 15:3).

What a curb on sin this would be unto us, did we but meditate upon it more frequently! Instead of acting recklessly, we should say with Hagar, "You God see me!" (Genesis 16:13).

The apprehension of God's infinite knowledge should fill the Christian with adoration. The whole of my life stood open to His view from the beginning. He foresaw my every fall, my every sin, my every backsliding, yet, nevertheless, fixed His heart upon me. Oh, how the realization of this should bow me in wonder and worship before Him!

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)