Gems from March 29-30, 2005
March 29
"God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them." (2 Corinthians 5:19)
There is no sin imputed to us now; it is all put away. But will that make me hard when others fail? No; my seeing that Christ agonized on the cross for me will give me a sense of my freedom, but not indifference about sin. Instead of hardness, it will give us tenderness and softness of spirit. (J.N. Darby)
N.J. Hiebert # 2203
March 30
"Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." (Philippians 2:12)
Not your own forgiveness, but your own salvation. It is said to those who were already forgiven. Salvation, in the sense spoken of there, implies the whole conflict with the power of evil we are passing through. We know that we have to do with the common enemy, but God is at work in us, both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). We know the deep concern and regard which God feels for us, as committed to this conflict. We are fighting under His orders - doing His will in that thing as well as in others. So far is God from leaving us in any way, that He assures our soul He is pledged to see us through to the end, but He will have us have a solemn sense of the war with Satan in which we are engaged. (W. Kelly)
N.J. Hiebert # 2204
