GOD'S HUMAN FELLOWSHIP by J. G. C.

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Dec 9, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 47.

GOD'S HUMAN FELLOWSHIP

By J. G. C.

Divinity and Humanity Brought into Direct Contact

When dedicating the Hebrew temple, the king of Israel asked, with apparent dimness of faith, “Will God in very deed dwell with men on the earth?” For many generations, his ancestors had attended upon the sanctuary services when the Shekinah—the sole symbol of Jehovah's presence among men—had appeared to those entrusted with high-priestly honors. But this was not entirely satisfactory to the Hebrew king, as is evident from the open query whether God would or could, in very deed, dwell among men.

Yet a promised Messiah had long been the hope of the house of Israel. After Jacob had won his notable victory at the ford of Jabbok, where he was in personal converse with the Lord Himself (Gen. 32:24-30), he was prepared to speak positively to his sons of the coming of Shiloh, as one to whom the gathering of the people would be. Gen. 49:10. A later prophet also saw in vision the coming to earth of David's Descendant, who would be so connected with Deity as to carry the names “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “Mighty God,” and “Prince of Peace.” His appearance among men was to entitle Him to sit on the throne of Israel forever, and there reign in peace and equity. Isa. 9:6. Later a prophet even revealed that Bethlehem, in Judah, would be the birthplace of such a wonderful God-man, who would rule Israel, and be counted “great unto the ends of the earth.” Micah 5:2-4.

“GOD WITH US”

But with the formal training supported by the Jewish nation, these prophetic utterances did not properly weigh in their minds. After Solomon, they continued to question the possibility of God's dwelling anywhere but in heaven, His allotted habitation. They could not have pondered well the prophet's distinct enunciation of the heavenly sign—the Child's virgin birth, and the name “Immanuel,” “God with us,” by which He was to be called. Isa. 7:14. Had they done so, they would have grasped the thought of God's intention to dwell among men, as revealed in Matt. 1:23.

Even though these prophetic utterances were literally fulfilled before men, the profound mystery of God's actually dwelling in human flesh was at that time too much for the comprehension of carnal reflection. But the Saviour made it plain that in the course of events, the world's thought would be directed toward Him. Said He, “I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me.” John 12:32. Evidently this was to be by the surcharging of men so completely with the Saviour's own life-power and work, that the world would see in them Heaven's impelling stimulus toward spiritual deportment.

SHOWED FORTH IN A HUMAN BEING

The inspired record mentions the case of one specially called to this purpose. The apostle Paul said that the reason why he obtained mercy was that in him the Lord Jesus might first “show forth all long-suffering, for a pattern” to others who might believe in God's real earth-presence. 1 Tim. 1:16. In other words, it was designed to show, through the apostle, that God could and would live in ordinary mortals, to control their lives, even as He had dwelt in the earthly form of the Child of Nazareth.

This truth was really foreshadowed in the calling of that truly great apostle. “I will show him,” said the Lord, “how great things he must suffer for My name's sake.” Acts 9:16. We accordingly find this man suspected by his Jerusalem brethren, whipped and imprisoned at Philippi, mocked at Athens, stoned and left for dead at Lystra, and finally conveyed as a prisoner to Rome, his enemies hoping thus to rid the world of his presence. But amid it all, this man was able to say to the lifelong cripple, “Stand upright on thy feet,” and he obeyed. So wonderful, indeed, were the miracles he performed, that people touched his person with articles of clothing belonging to the sick, and returned them to their owners with healing virtue. This same man was able to say calmly, at the close of a most eventful life, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.” 2 Tim. 4:7.

He had indeed been crucified with Christ, even to filling up in his flesh that which he had lacked humanly of the afflictions of the Master. Col. 1:24. He underwent all that mysterious process of being moved by God's impulses, in order that he might truly reveal in his humanity the fellowship of that divine mystery. Eph. 3:9. In this, he died with Christ, that he might live; yet he declared that it was not he that lived (that is, acted), but Christ who lived in him, and that his earthly career was through the faith of the Son of God, who was his indwelling Instructor and Guide. Gal. 2:20.

This avowal was in perfect keeping with the promise of Christ, who said: “If a man love Me, he will keep My words; and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him.” John 14:23. Such a fellowship of the divine with the human can not fail to effect wondrous changes in the life of one so highly favored. It must be the retirement of the human nature, and the reception of the divine nature in its stead. 2 Peter 1:4. It is indeed the rich result of the indwelling of God through

Immanuel, who is “God with us,”—the enjoyment of heavenly “fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1:3. “Without controversy great is the mystery of godliness.” 1 Tim. 3:16.

J. G. C.