The Pulpit Commentary — 2 Corinthians — Section 29

Faith is a fond fancy. So the mist wraps men in its chilly fold. Against all this we place the e.erlasting Yea. Jesus Christ is God's mighty and loving Yes to the children of men. And whatever the differences among our religious communities, in this testi- mony all are at one. _'J'.he Son of God is he who can give light to the darkened mind, rest to the weary spmt, warmth to the frozen heart. In him desire is satisfied apparent contradictions are reconciled, or hope is given of solutions by-and-by, for which we can ~ell a~ord to wait. Some coi:itr~st the Christia_n. faith unfavourably with the physical sciences. They say that 1t 1s full of myst1c1sm and loose conjecture wher~ the sciences proceed by rigorous induction of facts observed, collated, and scrut:mzed. In the f?rmer we are a~ked to walk on air; in the latter, every step we take 1s o~ sur~ and solid ground. This w_e totally deny.. 'J?here is no fair and proper test of h1stoncal and moral truth to which our holy rehg1on refuses to be subjected. We have the well-authenticated records spoken and written by those who saw and heard Jesus Christ. We have the best reasons for trusting their testimony; and in the words, and works, and character, and suffering of Jesus, in his reappearance after death and in the whole influence which he has exerted over millions of men for nearly nineteen centuries, we have overwhelming proof that, while human, he is superhuman- he is the Son of God. It is science that has to change its voice, not reliaion. It has to modify its assertions, correct its conclusions, and reconsider its theori;s; but Jesus Christ is "the same yesterday, and to-day, and for ever;" and the gospel which proclaims him brings to ns the Divine " yes" to which we have only to respond with the human "yes" of an unwavering faith. The Saviour asks, "Belie vest thou that I am able to do this?" Be ready with the answer, "Yea, Lord."-F. Ver. 20.-.The certainty of Divine promises. I. ALL THE PROMISES OF Gon. From the first (Gen. iii. 15) which points to the Saviour's first coming, to the last (Rev. xxii. 20) which assures us of his second coming, these are all very good. Their range is vast, their bounty large, their comfort sweet and strong. They bring balm to our wounds, help to our infirmities, rest to our weariness, encouragement to our prayers. They are "exceeding great and precious." Scattered as the promises are over the Bible, they should be searched out and read with an intelligent regard to the time when they were given, the persons to whom they were addressed, and the nature of the dispensation under which they were issued. They are profitable in a general sense as exhibiting the Divine character and mind, and they convey individual comfort to those who, in express terms or by fair inference from the express termA, are indicated in par- ticular promises. These comprehend assurances of (1) temporal welfare; (2) free pardon; (3) a renewed and obedient heart; (4) the indwelling of the Holy Spirit; (5) the return of the Lord and our gathering to him in his glory. These are the keys to open all doors in the dungeons of Doubting Castle and set captives free. These are the strong withes that bind the holiest affections of men, or the cords and bands let down from above, which they hold as they skirt the precipices of moral danger and climb the steep pl11ces of duty. These are the stepping-stones across waters of despondency, on which pilgrims may pass dry-shod to the happy shore. II. THE SECURITY OF ALL THOSE PROMISES IS IN JESUS CHRIST. No Divine promises are made to us out of Christ, and no promise in him can fail. This arises from : 1. The constitution of his mediatorial Person. He is very God and very man : Go<l who is true and cannot lie, in union with a guileless Man who had no deceit in his mouth. 2. 'l'he nature of his mediatorial offices. As he is the Prophet, all the promises of Divine teaching and enlightenment are secure in him. As he is the Priest, all the promises of pardon, of acceptance in worship, and of salvation to the uttermost are secure in him. As he is the King, all the promises of the subdual of sin and o· <leliverance from spiritual adversaries are secure in him. 3. 'l'he covenant relation! of Christ to his people. They are so comprehended in him or represented by him that all the promises made to him are for their help and consolation, and all the promises made to them are for his glory. So are they assured of pardon through him, eternal life in him, the Holy Spirit of him and by him, and the new heavens and new earth with him who is the Amen, faithful and true. IJJ. 'fHE END IN VIEW IN TliE SURENESS OF THE l'ROMIBEB, " For glory to God through us." It is glorifying to him that we go to the promises for eolnce and live on the CB. 1. 1.-24.] THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. 29