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THE TRUTHS OF CHRIST IN A DIALOGUE

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THE TRUTHS OF CHRIST IN A DIALOGUE

8 minuten leestijd Arcering uitzetten

Article 4

(Continued)

Letterwise

Yes, as long as they are unconverted and have not been translated into the kingdom of the Son of God. Let us consider how this is in accordance with the Word of God: Satan was created by God as a good angel, but through his apostasy from God he has become a devil, and such an evil spirit, that he was the first one that rebelled against the kingdom of God’s nature and power, not having abode in the truth, John 8:44.

We read in Scripture of angels that have sinned, 2 Peter 2:4, and of angels which kept not their first estate, but feft their own habitation, Jude, verse 6. This evil angel, called Satan, who has cast off (only to the extent that he could do so) the Divine dominion and authority, has again erected or established (under Divine allowance) a kingdom; but it is a kingdom of darkness, a power of darkness, Col. 1:13, by which he has seduced man, Gen. 3, who also has apostatized from God through sin and disobedience, having become obedient to Satan, who was a murderer from the beginning, John 8:44. For this reason we read in our Bible that Satan has might, violence, force, and dominion, and he is called the prince of this world, John 16:11. It was now becoming to Divine justice that God, according to the threatening upon the trespass of His command, should give the apostate man, who would persevere in His rebellion, over into the power of his seducer, “that now worketh in the children of disobedience,” Eph. 2:2: As previously mentioned, we read in II Tim. 2:26 that they “are taken captive by him at his will.” In that respect Satan is not only called mighty, but also righteous, Isa. 49:24: “Shall the prey be taken from the mighty, or the lawful captive delivered?” (“The prisoner of the righteous escape,”—Holland version). According to the margin of our Bible Jesus aimed at this Scritpure when he spoke the words which we find in Matthew 12:29. Not that the devil himself can be righteous, but his dominion over the sinner is righteous because God, according to His righteousness, has given him this as a punishment for the sinner. Nevertheless they are all under the rulership of God, Who directs and governs all things to those ends which He, as that great Sovereign, has intended. Thus man is a subject of the prince of darkness, and this is according to the righteousness of God!

Ignorance

I have always thought that the subjects of Satan were devils, and that they would be used to punish evil and wicked people.

Letterwise

That is the truth, but not the truth in its completeness. Satan has devils as his subjects, but men also. We understand the angels to be the heavenly host of God, which are divided into several ranks or orders. We read in Jude, verse 9, of Michael the archangel, as perhaps Gabriel is likewise, Dan. 9, and Luke 1. The Jews also add two others, Uriel and Raphael, all of whom have under them a multitude of angels. For this reason Jesus said that the Father could give Him more than twelve legions of angels, Matt. 26:53. And Micaiah said, I Kings 22:19: “I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by Him on His right hand and on His left.” Perhaps it was one of these angels of a higher rank who announced the birth of Christ to the shepherds, being followed by subordinate angels, Luke 2:13: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God.”

Now we believe that in the apostasy of the angels, an upper angel together with his subordinate angels fell away from God, and this chief or ringleader of the apostasy is specifically called Satan, the Devil, Beelzebub, the Prince of devils, etc., and the subordinates are thus designated, “the devil and his angels,” Matt. 25:41, or “devils” in general. The evil angels or devils are subjects then of the Prince of darkness, and shall serve as a punishment for the evil and wicked people, but these evil people unregenerate sinners, who are not yet subjects of the kingdom of grace, are now also subjects of Satan and are in his service, as well as the evil angels, for they also have apostatized from their God just as the angels: “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.” John 8:44. Cain was of that wicked one, I John 3:12, who likewise entered the heart of Judas, and filled the heart of Ananias, Acts 5:3, and has the power of darkness, Col. 1:13.

Ignorance

I can now understand that the evil people are also subjects of Satan, who works in them: but just who are the evil and wicked people?

Concerned

They are not only heathens, Turks, etc., or those who live in great sins, such as idolators, whoremongers, adulterers, covetous, drunkards, blasphemers, robbers, etc., but all those who are unconverted, yet being in their state of nature. They may even be very moral or religious, as is evident from many heathens and Jews at the time when Christ was upon this earth, and from many Christians in name only, all of whom need to pass directly and actually from the kingdom of the devils into the kingdom of grace just as well as the most evil persons, because of the converted alone it is said: “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son.” Col. 1:13. In this connection Paul writes in Romans 9:6: “For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel,” as has also been seen of this kingdom of grace throughout all ages: not only under the Old Testament dispensation, during which period the heathens were excluded, but also under the New. The one remains in his natural state, while the other is brought to conversion, I Cor. 1. Now the important question for each of us personally is, does this change exist only in our imagination, or have we really experienced it in heart and life, as Paul, the jailor, and as all the truly converted have experienced and yet daily experience it.

Ignorance

I think that we, who are of the Reformed churches, must hope that God shall be gracious unto us, and that we do not belong to the subjects of Satan.

Concerned

As if there are no evil people amongst those who are called “Reformed,” while among the apostles there was even a Judas, and experience contradicts this emphatically! The name “Reformed” does not help nor grant special privileges to anyone, no matter how learned, moral, and religious he may be; we must be converted, Matt. 7:21: “Not every one that saith unto Me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of My Father which is in heaven.” Now with regard to the grace of God, upon which Ignorance hopes, this does not exist herein, that God will merely overlook all things when you die and save you; but the grace of God is manifested in this, that He renews and changes your heart and makes you a subject of the Lord Jesus Christ, and then you shall be saved. And if this would happen, you would experience what it is to make a change of Lord, which is the experience of all those who are truly converted.

Letterwise

Yes, but we must hope the best of ourselves and also of others, in love towards our neighbor, and let God judge about the matter.

Strong: Christian

How plain it is that Sir Letterwise is now contradicting what he himself so clearly taught, that all evil and unconverted people are subjects of Satan; how then can anyone truly judge in such a loveless manner about himself or others, or hope upon such a false ground? As mentioned before, it is necessary for a sinner to actually experience a change of Lord and Master, just as the Truth must actually become Truth for us by experience as well as by contemplation, or a man shall deceive himself miserably. What a great change must take place! We either have the devil or Jesus as our Lord, for no one can serve two masters, and, “What concord hath Christ with Belial?” II Cor. 6:15.

Your statement that the Lord should be asked to judge our state is according to the example of David: “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” Psalm 139:23,24. But it is also the will of God that we shall consciously judge ourselves (I Cor. 11) and that, with a view of the deceitfulness of our heart and the wicked devices of Satan, we shall call to the Lord for help so that we do not deceive ourselves.

(To be continued.)

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Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 november 1961

The Banner of Truth | 12 Pagina's

THE TRUTHS OF CHRIST IN A DIALOGUE

Bekijk de hele uitgave van woensdag 1 november 1961

The Banner of Truth | 12 Pagina's