2 Corinthians 9:13-14 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection to the gospel of Christ… I wish to direct attention to the declaration of those who profess obedience to Christ by joining the Church. Such a one professes to have — I. A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF THE FIRST PRINCIPLES OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. One cannot make a profession truly unless he makes it intelligently. There is a difference between knowledge and faith, yet when there is faith there must be some knowledge. Ignorance marks credulity, but not faith. True, there is a difference between apprehension and comprehension. We often apprehend what we cannot explain. To be a Christian it is not necessary to be a theologian; yet there must be a clear conception that Jesus Christ is the Lord, that He has suffered and died to make salvation possible. In the present reaction against creeds we must see that we do not let go our hold on the essential truths. II. A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE GOSPEL'S POWER. Men should first come to Christ, then into the Church. I do not claim that the Church member should be able to tell the moment when he was born into the kingdom of the Saviour, or the details of his conversion. The watchman may not be able to tell when the first faint gleam of the day was on the eastern sky, etc. What I ought to know is that the day has dawned in my heart. It is not claimed that the Christian is to be perfect. The little one in the primer class is just as much a student as the youth with his calculus. So no one is to be excluded from Christ's school because he is but learning the alphabet of His doctrine. III. A WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE EVERYTHING THAT IS INCONSISTENT WITH A CHRISTIAN LIFE. The Christian has one Lord, Christ Jesus. If he enters where there is another ruler, call it pride, fashion, or what you will, he becomes a traitor to his Lord. Remember, the Christian can have but one king. And think of Paul's warning, that he that doubteth is condemned already. IV. A WILLINGNESS TO WORK WITH THE CHURCH IN BEHALF OF CHRISTIANITY. The Church has a work to do in the world. 1. To those who have professed this subjection, Have you kept this profession? 2. To those who have not made profession, Why have you not professed Christ? (W. M. Taylor, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men; |
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