CHRIST ONLY THE FOUNDATION OF MAN’S SALVATION

These words were written by the Apostle Paul to his spiritual son Timothy, and thus likewise also to the many troubled children of God who so often question whether the Lord has wrought His work within their souls.

We will draw your attention first, to the firmness of God’s foundation, and in the second place, to the seal and its inscriptions. The first is for the comfort of the church, and the second for our duty. Unfathomable are the counsels of God, Who in the beginning made the heavens and the earth, and still maintains them by His providence. This applies especially to His heritage which He has loved with an everlasting love from eternity. He sends His servants with His message of, “Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord’s hand double for all her sins,” Isa. 40:1, 2.

It was a great joy for the church at Jerusalem when they heard out of the mouth of Simeon, after embracing the CHRIST CHILD—that now God first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. To confirm this matter James said that it was in accordance to the prophets that God would build again the tabernacle of David, which was fallen down. Thereupon he testified for the comfort of the whole church: “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of the world.” Acts 15:18.

God’s work is always tried. God created man as the masterpiece of His creation, endowed as an image bearer of God, with knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. Satan being cast out of his exalted position in heaven, made every attempt to violate God’s counsel. His first attempt to be like God was not successful. He therefore deceitfully tempted Eve by saying, ‘Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil,” Gen. 3:4-5. What an apparent victory he won when our first parents gave ear to him and turned their backs upon God. This however was Satan’s defeat. God gave unto our parents the Messianic prophecy of the coming of Christ, and Satan’s condemnation: “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; and it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel,” Gen. 3:15. The suffering of Christ was herein foretold. Christ knew His own from eternity, and was willing to give Himself for His own.

Soon after the fall, sin increased, all the powers of hell fell upon man who had torn himself loose from God, as we read that the wickedness of man was great upon the earth, and that the imaginations of man’s heart was evil from his youth. The Lord sent His faithful servant Noah to warn them, but these warnings were not accepted. Will the Lord now utterly forget His church, and will Satan win the victory by tempting the souls of the children of men? No, dear reader, we read that Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. The flood came, but Noah and his family, that is eight souls, were saved. Why? because the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. In all the assaults of Satan, throughout the history of the world, the church has remained standing as a lodge in a garden of cucumbers.

During Christ’s sojourn on earth He has warned His disciples, and thus also the entire church, that in the last times many christs should arise and should deceive many. The apostle Paul, writing to his son Timothy, also warned him for the false teachers. He warned him to remain faithful to Christ’s doctrine, remembering that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead according to His gospel; I Tim. 1:15. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” Oh, blessed gospel, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save the chief of sinners. Have you learned to know yourself as the chief of sinners? It is for such to whom the gospel is preached effectively. Christ Jesus came into the world, and that for sinners. Are you one who has given up all hope in yourself, and without God in the world? Often the work of grace in the heart of a repenting sinner is tried. Satan is a deceiver, who will try to deceive even the very elect, if that were possible. The church of God experiences that Satan often attacks them concerning the purity of the doctrine. Sometimes with the assaults, “Is there a God?” “Is Christ the Second Person in Divine essence?” Is there a Divine Trinity?” Oh, what a severe strife often fills the heart of God’s people! Often they ask, “Did I begin with God, or did God begin His work within me?” Many sad days and nights are spent regarding the truth of the matter in their heart. Many questions arise, will the Lord have mercy on such a wretch as I am? Have I learned to love God in sincerity, do I love His attributes above my own salvation? God tries the hearts. Can you lay your heart open before Him? Are you willing to leave the Moab of this world and to choose with Ruth the friendship of the children of God? Then may the Lord encourage you with the manifestation of His love which passeth all understanding.

God predestinated to salvation a portion of fallen mankind. He can have no communication with sinners. In order for God to be consistent with His holiness and righteousness, Christ intervened with His ransom, from eternity. This is usually called, “The Covenant of Redemption or The Counsel of Peace.” It was the eternal will of the Father to redeem the elect through Christ’s suffering, and the will of the Son to offer himself as the surety for the elect. This agreement existed between the Father and the Son from eternity. And this stands as an UNMOVABLE FOUNDATION to the comfort of God’s people. He will never forsake His own work in the hearts of His people, Isa. 54:10 “for the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but My kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of My peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee.” Oh blessed, eternal, unchangeable, everlasting foundation. His Counsel is the seal which stands from eternity through eternity.

There are, however, two things to be considered in this counsel of peace. They are first, the agreeing parties, which has already been discussed, and second the work of the respective parties, which is our seoncd consideration. It is the duty of a renewed nature whereof our text speaks, “And, let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” The seal has two inscriptions which are connected with each other. Christ has sealed it with His blood, the seal is firm: they must be saved, His people are joint-heirs in Christ, He acknowledges them as His own. He is the origin of their salvation. Who can understand this? It is His unfathomable FREE grace.

God’s people are called to unconditional surrender to a saving faith in Christ Jesus.

In their first love they have promised Him all the love of their heart, but many times they find themselves faltering to the obligation they have promised Him in sincerity of heart. They find themselves often so cold, so barren and unprofitable. They find a stream of unrighteousness within their soul: “From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.” Is. 1:6. The warfare has begun within their soul, and the exercises of the fruit of regeneration is within their hearts. “For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Ps. 82:10. In the work of regeneration they have bid farewell to the world, and have made the choice with Ruth saying, “Thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.” They have made this their choice, and desire to live thereby. To these duties they have surrendered themselves. God’s Word has become their life. Reading the letter of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12 they find their practical duties recommended, and holiness enjoined; to die unto sin, and find their salvation only in Christ Jesus.

They need the daily teachings of the Spirit of Truth. “Howbeit when He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come,” John 16:13. The Spirit teaches us what we are by nature; so as to learn and feel our utter lost state and helplessness to do anything that is well pleasing in the sight of God. Thus the Spirit leads us in His Divine teachings the great blessedness that there is in Christ Jesus, to know Him as just, but also as a merciful God to purge our guilty conscience, so that by an eye of faith we may receive an interest in the electing love of the Father, in the atoning blood and justifying righteousness of the Son, and in the Divine teachings of the Holy Spirit.

Paul further describes the duty of every living soul. “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water,” Hebr. 10:21.

Many of God’s people cry for Divine illumination for the mysteries of the blessed gospel, certifying the foundation to their soul: “O send out Thy light and Thy truth, let them lead me,” Ps. 43:3. Also David, the man after God’s own heart, pleaded, “Remember the word spoken unto Thy servant upon which Thou hast caused me to hope,” Ps. 119:49.

Did you ever learn to hate yourself because of your sinful state which you cannot overcome in yourself, and have received a great desire to be kissed by the mouth of Christ Jesus, speaking peace and pardon to your soul? This will then take place when you exchange time for eternity. For His promises are yea and Amen.

Dear reader, do you have knowledge of these spiritual teachings of the Holy Spirit? If you are a stranger to these teachings, may we warn you not to venture your eternal state on a speculative head knowledge, nor on your tears and emotions, but ask the Lord to grant you that convincing grace in your heart that no one can accept Christ Jesus as their personal Saviour, unless it is given him from above. Read the beautiful confession the Apostle Peter once made: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Upon this Christ answered him; “Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father Which is in heaven.” Christ alone is the foundation, therefore the foundation of God’s children is sure and firm from eternity through eternity.

C.F. Boerkoel, Sr.

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