Notes on the International Lesson.
By Alonzo T. Jones
“This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” It would seem that this expression had become a “saying,”—a kind of proverb among the Christians, and upon which they dwelt in great measure, and which Paul would now give his most emphatic endorsement. It is a saying “worthy of all acceptation.” That is his mission, that is his name. The term Christ Jesus, being Greek, and simply transferred into the English, and not translated, the full meaning, without a translation, is not discerned. But with a reference Bible the real meaning is easily obtained from the marginal readings. Jesus is a Greek word, and in English means Saviour. Matt. 1:21, “Thou shalt call his name Jesus [margin, Saviour], for he shall save his people from their sins.” In other words, Thou shalt call his name Saviour, because he shall save his people from their sins. The word Christ is also Greek, and in English means Anointed. John 1:41, “We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ” [margin, the Anointed]. These two terms, Christ and Jesus, being placed together, therefore, mean in English, The Anointed Saviour; and as he came to save sinners, the phrase Christ Jesus means, The Anointed Saviour of sinners. Bearing this in mind, it is wonderful what a depth of meaning is given to the Scriptures in our reading of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is not simply a bare name, but a glorious title, which in its depth of meaning absorbs both worlds, all time, and eternity. And he is able to save. All power in Heaven and in earth is given to him. “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” “By him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers; all things were created by him, and for him; and he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” Col. 1:6, 17. He upholds “all things by the word of his power.” It was his voice that “spake, and it was done.” It was he who commanded, and it stood fast. It was by “his word,” and “by the breath of his mouth,” that “the heavens,” and “all the host of them” were made. And he, though Creator of all, was made flesh, for the suffering of death. And that he might bring many sons unto glory, he chose to be made the perfect Captain of salvation, through suffering. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying, “I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.” Heb. 2:9-12. When wonderingly the prophet cried, “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, traveling in the greatness of his strength?” the answer came, “I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save.” Isa. 63:11. He is a mighty Creator; he is just as mighty a Saviour. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him.” “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” “Though ye have lain among the pots, yet shall ye be as the wings of a dove covered with silver, and her feathers with yellow gold.” Ps. 68:13. Paul knew of the power of this salvation, when Christ in his great mercy and long-suffering, apprehended him, a blasphemer, a persecutor, and injurious, and turned him to himself, and counted him faithful. And thus, says Paul, in him Christ showed his long-suffering for a pattern to them who should afterward believe on the Saviour to life everlasting. That is, Paul would convey to all the assurance that, as Christ’s mercy reached him, so it is abundant to all who will believe in Jesus. And “I will put my trust in him.” “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor, and glory forever and ever. Amen.” This is the only place in the Bible where the word “immortal” is used. In the revised New Testament it is not used at all. But in our common version it is used this once, and, as all can see, it refers solely to the eternal King. In 1 Tim. 6:15, 16, immortality is used thus, “Which in his times he shall show, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see; to whom be honor and power everlasting. Amen.” The word “immortality” is used again in 2 Tim. 1:10, where Paul says that Christ has brought it to light; and again in Rom. 2:7, where it is spoken of as one of the things for which we must seek; and again in 1 Cor. 15:53, 54, where it is said that it will be put on at the resurrection of the righteous dead, and the change of the righteous living, at the last trump. The Bible story of immortality is very short, plain, and easily understood. Thus: God only has it; Christ brought it to light; men must seek for it; and those who do, will obtain it at the resurrection of the just. This is the Lord’s own exposition of the subject, and therefore the only true one. “Holding faith and a good conscience.” Be careful of the conscience. Be sure you have a good one, and then be very careful to keep it good, and be sure that you do so. Try your conscience by the word of God; this points out the only way to get a good conscience; this is the only test by which we may know that we have a good conscience; this is the only guide for the conscience, by which it may be kept good. The following from the Sunday School Times is to the point: “Neither in the Bible nor in the practical experience of the race, is there anything to indicate that a man has within himself a safe and sure guide of duty. On the contrary, as we see it, a man must depend for teaching from outside of himself, in order to know the right from the wrong. God does give to every man an internal monitor which tells him that he ought to do right, but not an internal instructor which tells him what is right. In this sense, a man’s conscience is a monitor, but is not a teacher; a prompter, but not a guide. Conscience tells a man that he ought to do right. A man’s duty is to do right; not merely to do what he thinks to be right, but to do what is right. Hence ‘it is not always safe for a man to do what his conscience approves,’ ‘to do that which he thinks he ought to do.’ It is only safe for him to know what he ought to do and to do that. It is not always safe for a man to do what he thinks he ought to do; but it is safe for a man to do what he ought to do; and man must have a better guide than his conscience, in order to be always in the path of duty and of safety.”295 “Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” The will of God in this direction has been abundantly manifested. He has done all that he can do that men may be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. In Isa. 5:4, the Lord says, “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it?” “He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” “Neither is there salvation in any other; for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” “In him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily,” and if salvation is not obtained in him, it cannot be obtained at all. He is made to all men “wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption,” and “whosoever” (any person whatever) believeth in him shall not perish but shall have everlasting life. But it must be a genuine belief,—a real faith. Faith without works is dead, so every man’s faith must be manifested in works,—in doing. It will do no good to call him Lord, Lord, and do nothing. “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” Luke 6:46. He that heareth the sayings of Christ and doeth them, has built his house upon the rock. He is become the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey him. Heb. 5:9. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land; but if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.” Isa. 1:19, 20. “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.” This is the divine order in following the Saviour. First, deny self; next, take up the cross, and then follow him. But this is not the course that is followed to any great extent at the present day. There is entirely too much endeavor to follow him with neither self-denial nor the cross. Self-denial and cross-bearing are about the most unacceptable things that can be presented to the great majority of professed Christians. But without these there is no such thing as following Christ. The grace which brought this great salvation to all men teaches this very thing. “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:11-14. All this the grace of God teaches, and all this he would have us learn. But how few there are who learn it! There are a great many peculiar people in the world, but very few of the right kind of peculiar people. The kind of peculiarity of which God approves is that which is shown in zeal of good works. Note again the things which Paul says the grace of God teaches. It teaches us self-denial; it teaches us to live soberly, righteously and godly; and it teaches us to look for “that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” But how many who profess to be partakers of the grace of God, are taught by it to thus look for that glorious appearing of the Lord? Now as the grace of God which brings salvation, teaches men to look for the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, if the amount of the grace of God among men is measured by the number of those who have learned to look for that glorious appearing, then how much of the grace of God is there in the professedly orthodox Christian world to-day? Reader, are you thus taught by the grace of God to look for the glorious appearing of the Lord? “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.” A. T. J.