The Inward and the Outward Man
By C. H. BLISS
God alone knows what is in man. Man judges his fellows only by their outward act. God’s judgment does not rest on the outward act but on the inward condition. The nurseryman may be able by years of continued observation to tell the kind of apple a tree will bear by looking at the tree. He may say, Here is a Rome beauty, or, There is a russet, etc., but the unsophisticated observer waits until the fruit is produced before he can decide the nature of the tree. God pronounced Abraham a righteous man when he believed. The Lord saw in Abraham a disposition to trust and obey, which was demonstrated by the offering of Isaac. Now, we see in Abraham’s obedience a righteous character manifested. Only when that is seen do we know he was righteous. So when the sinner yields his will to God, confesses, repents, and believes, God accepts him and pronounces him righteous. He is justified by faith without works in the sight of God. But man waits for the outward act, the fruit which is seen in a holy life. Of Jesus it is said, “He knew what was in man.” He was able to distinguish between the true and the false. The Christian religion is a life, an inward power, like the leaven in the meal. The word of God is quick (alive) and powerful. It is received in the heart, and being a live thing, it works. It is Christ in us working out his own life in us. It is not simply imputed righteousness, but imparted righteousness. On the contrary, all false religions consist wholly in outward forms and ceremonies. They have no power to help one to do the things required. They are put on. But the religion of Christ is a principle, a life planted within, which manifests itself in righteous acts that are prompted by unselfish love.