In The Master's Service

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THE OLD BAPTIST TEST

Elder John M. Watson

Not that they are so in themselves, but in the power which produces them, a power which is always opposed to the way of grace in the soul, and in the life of the Christian.

We learn in the case of these Corinthians not only the practical way of the Lord in bringing in His "other sheep," and the power of His grace on their souls in this life, but also His prospective way with their bodies. We have just seen [July ITMS] that their wouls were vile in all their affections and exercises; and are taught further on in this sacred history that the same divine power is pledged to change their vile, corruptible bodies! 1 Cor. xv, 53; Rom. viii, 11.

As we are indebted to the Apostle's letter to these Corinthians brought in by the Lord, for the fullest account of the resurrection of the body, I will treat of that vital subject in connection with them.

This great truth, like all others, has been perverted, denied or modified according to the particular notions of different expounders; men of perverse minds, even among our own selves have done this, greatly to our hurt! History will record to our shame and disparagement a "spot" of this kind which now marks some who call themselves Old Baptists; who, although excluded from our union, are so identified with us in many other respects that we suffer in public estimation on account of their heresy which they maintain and propagate. These Manichaeo-Parkerites say, there will be no resurrection of the body! Hence I will have to treat this vital truth somewhat in a controversial way, which I greatly deplore. It is verily like contending with some deluded person as to whether the sun will rise in the east or set in the west tomorrow, to dispute with a Baptist about this plainly revealed truth, that "there must also be heresies among you," may be confirmed among us as fully as it ever was in past times. The advance of time does by no means exempt us from heresies. These must come, and work to the prescribed issue, to make manifest those who are approved.

I shall in the first place notice some of the metaphorical or figurative expressions predicated of the resurrection of the body; for without the admission of the literal thing itself a meatphor employed in regard to it, would be without meaning. There can be no signification by a figure, nor metaphorical teaching without a literal truth, to which it must refer. Some have doubtless erred by confounding literal truths with metaphorical or figurative expressions; these should be carefully contra distinguished, lest like the Manichaeo-Parkerites, we mistake the literal truth of the resurrection of the body for a more figurative or metaphorical expression! By a careful examination of these figurative allusions we may see that they all refer to the great truth of the resurrection of our bodies. Hence, such metaphorical allusions strengthen, instead of weaken, the doctrine of the resurrection.

I will now adduce some of these figurative expressions. "But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead: Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that He will yet deliver us?" 2 Cor. i, 9, 10.

They regarded themselves as dead men according to the dangers which then were present, with no hope according to human means of deliverance; but God of His own mercy and power raised them above these perils, from the grave itself in a figurative sense. "Come and let us return unto the Lord: for he hath torn, and he will heal us; he hath smitten and he will bind us up. After two days will he revive us, and the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his light." Hos. vi, 1, 2. The wretched condition of the Jews both in a civil and spiritual sense is here first alluded to, then their restoration, which in a metaphorical sense, will be a resurrection from their state of sin and death. See Rom. xi,15; Ezek. xxxvii,12,13,14. This metaphor is very appropriate and highly significant, being based upon the veritable, literal resurrection of our bodies, at the Lord's appointed time. Persons when "born again" are said to be raised from a state of sin and death to life. "Verily, verily, I say unto you, the hour is coming and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God, and they that hear shall live." John v, 25. "If ye then be raised with Christ seek those things which are above." Col. iii, 1. These are also figurative expressions predicated of an actual resurrection of our bodies. The morally dead are here spoken of, those who are quickened into spiritual life from a state of sin and death; and are in that sense risen with Christ. To arise from our Adamic state of sin and death into spiritual life with Christ is highly significant of the resurrection of our bodies from their state of death to life and glory. Who dare deny the figurative allusion.

To be continued ...