Knowing Christ

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 8, 1904

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 30, No. 23.

Jesus said: “I am the Good Shepherd; and I know Mine own, and Mine own know Me, even as the Father knoweth Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.” John 10:14, 15. Just before this He thus shows the difference between the false and true shepherds: “The thief cometh not, but that he may steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.”

In the same chapter He declares: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give unto them eternal life.” “A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for they know not the voice of strangers.”

These are vitally important truths in these days of uncertain theorizing. There is much talk about Jesus the Christ. He is made to do service theoretically in almost every new scheme and revamped old scheme. “Christian Science” claims Him, but does not know Him. New Thoughtists talk of the Christ-life, but know it not. “Socialism” makes Him its political Head, when there is no kinship between the two. National Reform demands that He be made a king, but as of old He hides Himself from them. Spiritualism tells us to seek Him in the secret chambers; but Jesus says, “Believe it not.” Mormonism declares we shall find Him in the desert; Jesus says, “Go not forth.” Many Christians wish to know the blessing of His promise, but despise His life and precept.

Not by theory or human prestidigitation, or works of merit will we find Him. Not by a mere study of His teachings and the records of His life shall we come to know Him; not by joining a church or The Church, with initial capitals writ large, shall we get acquainted with Christ Jesus the Lord.

The way is simple, and sufficiently plain to the mind that wishes to know it. It needs not great education or profound knowledge of philosophy or science in order to know Christ Jesus the Lord.

Note how simple it is:—

1. We can truly know only that with which we are in agreement. Never can we know the heart of the good till we come into harmony with the good. Never can we know a beautiful musical production till our soul is attuned to its harmony. How often are men misjudged year after year because we do not know them, because we have not come into harmony with their noble principles and high and generous motives. On the other hand, men are sometimes considered noble and good by the noble and generous, because they could not come into harmony with the mean and selfish and sordid nature behind the hypocritical generosity. “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” To know God we must come into agreement with Him.

But let us not be deceived. This does not mean that we may in sensuous passiveness and love of our own way persuade ourselves that God is in harmony with us, or will come into harmony with us. He is harmony. He is all that is good and right and just. We must, if we are to know Him for all that He wants to be to us, come into harmony with Him. “He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth Jehovah require of thee, but to do justly, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with thy God?” “How can two walk together except they be agreed?” God is righteous; we are the sinner; we must yield to agreement with God.

2. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” How may we know? Surely it is important. The first thing the normal little babe learns is its loving mother’s voice, and the touch of her hand. The mother-love meets all its needs, and the babe responds in harmony. So the Gospel of Christ meets all the needs of the poor sinner, all his helplessness, all his sin. It does not flatter him. It does not minimize his sin. It does not minister to his pride. It meets him just as he is, incurably sick with the leprosy of sin, and, with wonderful sympathy for his need and marvelous power, it comforts and heals and restores. Its voice will ever reach those who hate the sin which has brought the bondage, and who long to be free from sin and sinning.

But the test of the voice does not lie in the Gospel, but in the law. The soul that is sick is in its desperation willing to take any remedy promising relief; hence all the quacks religiously, psychologically, and physiologically. The test of all voices is God’s recorded Voice which He spake from heaven, and wrote with His own fingers upon tables of enduring rock. Ex. 20:1-17. Those Ten Words He spake with a great voice, out of the midst of the fire, and “He added no more.” Deut. 5:22.

That one Voice, speaking the sum of all morality to the sinful man, the reflect of God’s character, can not in the very nature of the case undergo change. “They stand fast forever and ever.” “The law of the Lord is perfect.” “It is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than for one tittle of the law to fail.” And therefore that voice stands as the test of all voices in the earth. “To the law and to the testimony; if they speak not according to this Word, it is because there is no light in them.”

When that voice speaks in our ears from the Sinai of God’s love and justice and truth and righteousness, we may do as did unbelieving, sin-loving Israel of old, beg that it be spoken to us no more, and so fail to learn God, fail to come into harmony with Him, and so put man in God’s place. Thus did Israel. Ex. 20:18-21; Deut. 5:22-27. Or, we may do as did “Moses the man of God,” draw near to God, receive His Word, put away all the sin, and come into complete harmony with God till the very face shall shine and the voice ring from the heart divinely attuned. Moses knew God and knew His voice. He delighted in doing God’s will. Christ knew God, and delighted to do His Father’s commandments. “I delight to do Thy will, O My God; yea, Thy law is within My heart,” are His own words through the psalmist. He lived as tho in heaven itself. He dwelt as in the very bosom of the Father. John 3:13; 1:18. There was harmony and union absolute. The flow and interflow of the Spirit of life were full and constant.

And this union, this knowledge, is possible, nay, more, is the duty, the privilege, of every child of God. Absolute yielding to do God’s will by faith in Christ Jesus—God’s own appointed way—will bring life union with Him, the reception of His life, ingrafting into Christ. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” The faith must be in harmony with God’s requirements. The belief that attempts to lay hold of promise and reject precept is spurious. Every voice will be tested by the One Voice.

In this there is the union which fulfils the prayer of Christ: “That they all may be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.” Even thus does Christ know His own, and His own know Him, even as the Father knows Him and He the Father.

There is no exaltation of man in this union, only as God lifts him up. There is no free-lovism, no mawkish sentimentality, no vain philosophy, no divided Christ, no shifting, uncertain experiences; but the assurance of pardoned sin in the living, immutable Word, and the ability to live for God in “the power of an endless life.”