Covenanter Witness Vol. 55 - Rparchives.org

iage."slept."out."marriage."Spirit and of fire. John was not worthyto baptize his Lord, but he was permitted to do so, that Christ in His humanity might fulfill all righteousness.Baptism is more than a turning fromsin; It is an endeavor after New Obedience. That is, the obedience of a NewCreature. Man cannot render perfectobedience as is required. So Christ, inaccepting baptism, assumed man's covenant of perfect obedience, and fulfilledit. So when we enter with Christ intoHis baptism,and join with Him in Hiscovenant of obedience, His perfect obedience is imputed to us through faith.Faith does not release us from anyduty. Christ's work supplements, fulfills, makes perfect, our work that wecannot do.Most of the ancient prophets just appeared. Some, we do not know fromwhence they came. John, the last of theOld Testament and the first of the NewTestament Prophets, was foretold 500years before his coming. He introducedChrist to a waiting world. At Christ'sbaptism the three Persons of the Godhead are introduced in one paragraph;God the Father said, "This is My beloved Son." The Holy Spirit descended inthe form of a dove.John seems to have baptized at several places along the Jordan, but we donot know where Jesus was baptized. Nodifference. There is no promise of special blessing for being baptized in theJordan. However, there are many pilgrims who travel far to be baptized inthe waters in which Jesus was baptized.Water is carried from the Jordan allover Christendom for use in baptism,as though it had some virtue. The waterthat is flowing in the Jordan today, mayhave been in the Mississippi two thousand years ago.We should not confuse baptism withwhat it symbolizes.Some would have over-rated John, hewould not allow it. He could not overrate Jesus.Man's greatest ministryduce Jesus.Psalms:is to introPRAYER MEETING TOPICOctober 19, 1955THE TEN VIRGINSMatt. 25:1-13Rev. Charles Sterrett97:6-10, page 23390:6-8, page 22218:23-25, page 3350:1, 2, 5, 6, page 127204References: Psa. 84:11; Prov. 9:12;Matt. 24:44; Luke 12:35-37; John 14:3;Rom. 14:12; I Cor. 1:7; Eph. 2:8; Col.3:4; I Thess. 3:13; 5:4-6, 23; I Tim. 6:14; II Tim. 2:1; Titus 2:13; Heb. 10:37; 13:9; Jas. 5:8; I Peter 4:7-10; IJohn 2:28; Rev. 22:20.This parable is one of several ourLord told, among other things, in answer to His disciples' question aboutHis "coming" (ch. 24:3). Its main lesson: To be ready and accepted of Himat His coming, whether at the unrevealingtime of one's death, or of theGeneral Judgment of the Last Day,preparatory to "the Marriage.""To meet the Bridegroom," the common hope of all ten virgins in thisParable, is the common hope of all aspirants for "the kingdom of heaven"(v. 1).This hope is not realized by all; inthe parable, only by the five wise virgins who "took oil in their vessels withtheir lamps"; in the Kingdom, only bythose who have in their hearts what the"oil"symbolizes, the Holy Spirit, or theinfluence or power of the Spirit, whichcommonly called grace, supernaturalor divine grace.Common Grace Is Not SufficientIn the parable, the foolish virgins, aswell as the wise, "took their lamps, andwent forth to meet the bridegroom."Eastern nuptial ceremonies consisted inoutdoor processions as well as indoorfestivals. Being held at night, each processionist was expected to carry a torch.As the bearers advanced along the winding paths, the interesting and dancingrays of many separate lights added liveliness to the scene.When the ten virgins in this parblereached a certain point on the expectedroute of the bridegroom, they all hadtheir lamps burning brightly. They allseemed to show equal interest in hiscoming. As they watched and waited, allbecame weary, and set their burninglamps down and reclined on the ground."While the bridegroom tarried, they allslumbered and At the cry of aherald, they were awakened, "arose andtrimmed their lamps" now quite dim;some having gone out. The foolish vir"oil."gins were in trouble. They lackedIn the Kingdom, all members of theChurch, the professed subjects andfriends of the King, the Bridegroom, arebanded together, and are on their way tomeet and honor the Bridegroom. Eventhose who "outwardly" hear and acceptthe Gospel Invitation, who "have somecommon operations of the Spirit" (SeeAns. to L.C.Q. 68), and are identifiedwith the group, hope to be at "the MarApparently, some formal or false pro fessors of Christianity have as goodmoral conduct and Christian refinement to show as those who make a trueprofession; and at the outset, both intheir own opinion and that of theirneighbors, theyare all alike Christians.For quite some time their lives mayglow, their "lamps" burn brightly.But when the sincerity of their profession and ground of their hope is putto the test, it will be found that theirlights will fade away, that they do notreally have what it takes to see themthrough. Common grace that affectsonly one's head or body, and carbonshis "lamp," is not efficacious, not irresistible, not persevering, not saving,not sufficient.Special Grace Is SufficientIn the parable, when the foolish virgins found they could no longer keeptheir lamps aglow, they said to thewise: "Give us of your oil; for our lampsare gone The wise replied thatthey had "not enough for us and you:but go ye rather to them that sell andyourselves."buy forThough it musthave seemed to the wise a late hourto buy oil, it was the best answer theycould give in the circumstances. In theday, when oil was available, each of thewise had bought for herself, personally,and had the oil in her personal vessel, todraw on in case of personal need such ashad now arisen. Only those who werethus provident and wise were "ready"when the bridegroom came. "And theythat were ready went in with him totheIn the Kingdom, empty formalists areinclined to lean on, or sponge off, those"filled with the Spirit." True Christiansare channels of common grace, but notsprings. Each unbeliever is under thenecessity of making direct personal contact and contract with the Lord, fromwhom proceeds the Spirit of Grace, whochanges hearts and gives grace. This isthe Special grace every one needs to beaccepted of the Lord.No saved sinner can be a saviour ofsinners. Christ is the One and Only Saviour for every one. No bestowal ofgrace by the whole Church can absolve asinner. A true Christian can not imparta share of the saving grace that willsave him, to a dying unbeliever. Here'swhere "every man shall bear his ownburden"(Gal. 6:5). Individual responseto, and action on, the Gospel invitation,is required of every responsible person.Personal faith in Jesus Christ is the special and sufficient grace needed; the"saving grace, whereby we received andrest upon Him alone for salvation, asHe is offered to us in the Gospel."isCOVENANTER WITNESS