HOW THE WORLD IS TO KNOW.
An important fact too often overlooked is that the instruction of the Scriptures is largely given to the Lord's people—to those who profess to believe in Him. Of what value would instruction be to an unbeliever? It was not till after God had a regularly organized church that the Scriptures began to be published. These were primarily for the use of those who at least professed to believe in the true God. How, then, could they be of any benefit to the outside world?—They could benefit the world only as they were practically carried out in the church. Here is the manner in which the Word was to be operated for the benefit of the world: "Behold, I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the Lord my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people." Deut. 4:5, 6. The Lord's people are to walk by faith in His Word—such a faith as will be manifested in the doing of His Word; and their walking by faith will demonstrate to the sight of the unbeliever that there is something of practical value in the service of the true God. The unbelieving world walks by sight; the natural man is actuated by what he sees, or is able to comprehend by means of his natural senses. Hence the believer is to show him the truth by the object-lesson of a life guided by faith in the Word of God, which is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. When Christ came into the world, "He came unto His own," that is, to the church. They were terribly backslidden, but they were His recognized people, and it was essential that there be first a work of reformation amongst them in order that the heathen might see something to induce them to accept salvation. As a body the Jewish people rejected the Messiah they had so long looked for and talked about; but Christ found enough who would accept Him and His message to form the nucleus of a church that would illustrate the principles of the Gospel to the world by means of actual life. To this "little flock" He gave the practical instruction which they were to receive by faith and show to the world: "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Then the world is to know God, and to know the Saviour Jesus Christ, by seeing the effect His Word has upon those who believe it. And those who profess to believe are responsible to God for the influence their conduct has upon the world. By failing to "keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus" in the sight of men, they bring reproach upon the cause they profess to represent. When David became backslidden in heart, and did violence to the law of God, the Lord's prophet told him that by so doing he had "given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme." Thus the Lord gives the world credit with having sufficient discernment to know whether we live up to our profession or not. A leading characteristic of the Gospel of Christ is unity; therefore when we preach the Gospel of Christ to the world, the people naturally expect to see the principles of love and harmony manifested in our lives. Knowing the essential means of influence upon the world, Jesus prayed to His Father that there might be a spirit of unity amongst His disciples; not only with His personal followers, but for all time. "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us; that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me." How, then, can the professed disciples of Christ expect to do effective missionary work in the world without such a condition of harmony among themselves as will not only give the Gospel a certain note, but will commend to the world its effect upon the lives of those who truly accept it. James tells us that all wars and fightings among Christians come of selfish lusts. It is also true that the corruption that is in the world comes in through lust (2 Peter 1:4), from which the disciple of Christ is counseled to "abstain," which is to be "crucified" with all fleshly affections. Whatever will hinder a perfect union with Christ will hinder such a harmonious condition among disciples as would commend the religion which we profess and proclaim. The boldness of faith on the part of Peter and John on the occasion of their arrest after healing a certain lame man, convinced the people "that they had been with Jesus." This is the kind of testimony that the life and work of every Christian should bear to the world. And all who are thus intimately connected with Christ will also manifest a spirit of love toward one another, and thus fulfil the commandment of Christ (John 15:12). This is the universal badge of recognition of discipleship: "By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another." John 13:35. Where this badge is in evidence, Christians will be known by their works, and their profession will not be questioned in the world. Their light will be on a hill, and, like their Master, they can not be hid.