The Christianity of Christ
IT is a sad fact that many professors of religion are somewhat in the same condition as the man described by his son. When the little fellow was asked if his father were a Christian, he replied that he was, but that he did not work much at the business. There are many who seem to think that if they only regard the common moralities or civilities of life, are not profane, dishonest, untruthful, pray now and then, give a little, perhaps, to the church expenses, they are very good Christians. Christianity with them is largely, if not wholly, of a negative character. It is manifested in the works of the law, "Thou shalt not." That is, they see in God's requirements just what is expressed in the mere words of prohibition, instead of seeing in that law just what the Gospel reveals to us in the positive righteousness manifested in the life of our Lord Jesus Christ. If our Christianity is anything, it is a positive force for good. Christ's life was not a negative life. While it is true that He "did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth" (1 Peter 2:22), it is also true that He "went about doing good" (Acts 10:38). Is it not just this which marks the difference between the "works of the law," or the "righteousness which is of the law," on the one hand, and the "obedience of faith," or the "righteousness which is by faith," on the other? The Decalogue in its mere words forbids sin. Its language is prohibitory. It is "Thou shalt not" do this and that and the other. The Jew who did not break the injunction, was blameless so far as the mere letter of the law was concerned. Touching righteousness which is in the law, he was blameless, as Paul declared that he was. Phil. 3:6. But the law requires more than a negative goodness. Were it not so, dead men keep it the best. It is not founded on negation, but on the positive character of God Himself. The character of God is love. 1 John 4:8. Love is the underlying principle of the law. The God of love gave His law in love. Love only can fulfil the law; and the apostle declares love to be its fulfilling. Rom. 13:10. John says, "This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous." 1 John 5:3. Jesus sums up the requirements of the law in loving God with all the heart, soul, mind, and strength, and one's neighbor as himself. See Matt. 22:37-40. But love is not a negation; it is a positive force. God loved a fallen world. This did not lead Him simply to do it no injury, or wish it well, but He gave His Son to die, and interested the hosts of angels in man's salvation. Christ loved the world and therefore gave Himself, left heaven with all its glory, sacrificed all He could sacrifice, suffered all He could suffer, because He loved the sinner. His whole life was a positive, outflowing life. There was developed in His loving and therefore lovable character the righteousness demanded by the holy law of God. The Jews had kept its letter, but were, nevertheless, sinners; for "to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." James 4:17. God's Word declared that the law required love. See Deut. 6:1-9; 10:12, 13. But as many did not believe God, and would not heed His Word, they did not see beyond the mere letter of the law. Those who by faith did apprehend the truth that God's law required more than mere negatives, not finding this love required in either their own life or power, were led to seek God by faith; and thus was revealed to them through the Gospel the righteousness which is of God by faith. By that faith the righteousness of God, manifested in the character of Christ, is imputed to the sinner for all the past (Rom. 3:20-23), and by that same faith the Spirit of Christ becomes his, and the love of God is shed abroad in his heart by the same Spirit (Rom. 5:5). It then follows that if the Christian has the Spirit of Christ, he will show the works of Christ. The goodness of his nature will not be merely negative but positive. He will do good; he will seek the good of others; he will have a burden for souls; he will labor for souls, sacrifice for souls, plead with God for souls. He will work, not for life, but from life. He will do, not because he ought to do, but because he must do, constrained by the love of Christ. To be a Christian is to be like Christ. Dear reader, have you this Christianity? Have you so learned Christ? Is your Christianity positive or negative? Are you laboring for Christ and His cause, or are you simply doing nothing against Him? If you have not His love in your heart to impel you to work, seek it now, seek it earnestly, seek with all your heart, and you will not seek in vain; for as men know how to give good gifts unto their children, "much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask Him." Luke 11:13. Therefore "ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."