The Relation of True Israel to the World.
By W. A. Blakely
There is a feeling among Christians in general that when Christ came to earth there was a grand change made in the plan of redemption; that prior to that time the Jews were saved by outward acts—God dealing with them in stern justice; while since Christ’s advent people are saved in an entirely different way—God now dealing only in mercy and love. They believe that the Jews had to obey the law, keep themselves separate from the rest of the world, and, in short, be saved by works, while the Christian’s duty is only to believe. “Christ has done it all; there is nothing for me to do,” is a sentiment that is entirely too widespread. The truth of the matter is that Christians, the true Israelites of this dispensation, stand in the same relation to God, to each other, and to the world, that the Jews and the patriarchs did in their respective dispensations; and if we except the difference of type and memorial they stand in the same relation to Christ. The Lord spoke in unmistakable language, commanding his ancient people to be separate from the wicked which were everywhere around them. If they would obey his voice and keep his covenant they should be to him a peculiar treasure above all people. In Deut. 20:24, 26 he says: “I am the Lord your God, which have separated you from other people. . . . And ye shall be holy unto me; for I the Lord am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.” And in Psalms 135:4: “For the Lord has chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.” “For thou art a holy people unto the Lord thy God; the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people to himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. . . . The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people. . . . Thou shalt therefore keep the commandments, and the statutes, and the judgments, which I command thee this day, to do them.” Deut. 7:6, 7, 11. This same distinction is kept up, or rather, renewed, in this dispensation. The Jews had become idolatrous, self-righteous, and instead of teaching and keeping the law of God, they taught “for doctrines the commandments of men.” Mark 7:7–9; Matt. 15:3–9. But Christ “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:17, 18. Again in 1 Peter 2:9 we read: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people;” thus the New Testament repeats nearly word for word, expressions from Ex. 19:5, 6: “Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people,” “a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.” It was anciently the duty of the people of God to be separate and distinct from the world; it is the duty of the Christian to-day. “Pure religion and undefiled [in all ages] before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Jas. 1:27. A most decided distinction between God’s people and the world is brought to view in the New Testament Scriptures. “Know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” Jas. 4:4. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15. “And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” Rom. 12:2. A noble example of such a life we find in Enoch, who, although he lived long before these scriptures were written, “walked with God” even when “the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually;” and though living on this earth for three hundred and sixty-five years, he maintained such a close connection with God that he was translated. It is the privilege, nay, more, the duty, of all to live in the same way. Christ set us a perfect example; and “he that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” 1 John 2:6. But although it is duty to keep unspotted from the world, it is just as much duty to “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven.” Matt. 5:16. “Ye are the light of the world;” and “your conversation” (manner of life) should be “honest among the Gentiles; that, whereas they may speak against you as evil doers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.” 1 Pet. 2:12. “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” By living righteous lives and keeping aloof from the pleasures and follies of the world, an example will be set that will exert a weighty influence. Many an unbeliever has accepted the gospel through the noble example of some devoted Christian. This is the relation that we bear to the world. God’s peculiar people should never be so conformed to the world that it would be difficult to “discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.” Mal. 3:18. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. If, then, the Son of God gave his life for sinners, how important it is that we labor for their conversion; that we bring this fact to their knowledge; and by our lives show what this faith does for us. The psalmist’s prayer was, “Uphold me with thy free Spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy way; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps. 51:12, 13. Aided by the Spirit he considered it his duty to labor for the unconverted. So should we. “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path,” says David, but we “are the light of the world.” Then the way that the light of God’s word reaches the world is through us. The following forcible language gives a good idea of Israel’s relation to the world:— “The Lord called out his people Israel, and separated them from the world, that he might commit to them a sacred trust. He made them the depositaries of his law, and he designed, through them, to preserve among men the knowledge of himself. Through them the light of Heaven was to shine out to the dark places of the earth, and a voice was to be heard appealing to all peoples to turn from their idolatry to serve the living and true God. Had the Hebrews been true to their trust, they would have been a power in the world. God would have been their defense, and he would have exalted them above all other nations. His light and truth would have been revealed through them, and they would have stood forth under his wise and holy rule as an example of the superiority of his government over every form of idolatry.” “But they did not keep their covenant with God. They followed after the idolatrous practices of other nations, and instead of making their Creator’s name a praise in the earth, their course held it up to the contempt of the heathen. Yet the purpose of God must be accomplished.579The knowledge of his will must be spread abroad in the earth. God brought the hand of the oppressor upon his people, and scattered them as captives among the nations. In affliction many of them repented of their transgressions, and sought the Lord. Scattered throughout the countries of the heathen, they spread abroad the knowledge of the true God. The principles of the divine law came in conflict with the customs and practices of the nations. Idolaters endeavored to crush out the true faith. The Lord in his providence brought his servants, Daniel, Nehemiah, Ezra, face to face with kings and rulers, that these idolaters might have an opportunity to receive the light. Thus the work which God had given his people to do in prosperity, in their own borders, but which had been neglected through their unfaithfulness, was done by them in captivity, under great trial and embarrassment.” “Every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved;” yet if in our efforts to bring the light to those in darkness, we cause the world to hate us, we know that Christ said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.” John 15:18, 19. Even though we know our efforts are not appreciated, it should not discourage us. Christ “came unto his own, and his own received him not.” But knowing that he would be “despised,” “stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted,” and that he would finally pour “out his soul unto death;” he left the glory of Heaven and passed through it all. With this example before us, we should keep in mind his admonitions: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you.” Matt. 5:44; Luke 6:27, 28. “Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. . . . Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink; for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.” Rom. 11:14, 20. “Love is the fulfilling of the law,” therefore if there be any enmity or ill will, it can only be on the side of the sinner. There can be no place in a Christian’s heart for malice. This thought was beautifully expressed by the poet in the following words:— “Hate the sin with all thy heart,
But still the sinner love.”
W. A. BLAKELY.