16 - CHAPTER 14: "HIGHEST" CRITICISM

THE HIGHEST CRITICISM THAT PREVENTS MANY CHRISTIANS FROM BELIEVING AND ACCEPTING THEIR RICH HERITAGE IN CHRIST The most extraordinary thing about the Victorious Life is that although it is so clearly taught in Scripture, yet it is so frequently unrecognised by Bible students. Many who have a thorough knowledge of their Bibles know nothing of this truth experimentally. The writer himself had been a careful student of the Scriptures for many years before the glory of this life lighted up his soul. Again and again clergy have confessed, "We do not preach this truth because we do not know it experimentally."

How is it that we are so slow of heart to understand? Probably the best way to put the case is to describe at some length the inner experiences of two men who had long been devoted to the service of God. Hudson Taylor, then a missionary in China, was one of these men. He has left in a letter to his sister a record of his search for holiness and his total inability to see how to get it, although the way lies so clearly on the page of Scripture. This is his confession:

HUDSON TAYLOR’S CONFESSION

"I prayed, fasted, agonised, strove, made resolutions, read the Bible more diligently, sought more time for retirement and meditation-but all without effect. Every day- almost every hour-the consciousness of sin oppressed me. Then came the question: ’Is there no rescue? Must it be this to the end-constant conflict, and instead of Victory, too often defeat?’ I hated myself, I hated my sin, and yet I gained no strength against it. I felt I was a child of God, but how to rise to my privileges as a child I was utterly powerless to see. I thought that holiness, practical holiness, was to be gradually attained by a diligent use of the means of grace. I felt there was nothing I so much desired in the world, nothing I so much needed. When my agony of soul was at its height, a sentence in a latter was used to remove the scales from my eyes, and the Spirit of God revealed the truth of our oneness with Jesus."

What was this letter? What was the sentence? The letter runs: "By faith a channel is formed by which Christ’s fullness plenteously flows down. The barren branch becomes a portion of the fruitful stem. He is most holy who has most of Christ within. It is defective faith, which clogs the feet and causes many a fall. Abiding-not struggling or striving: looking off to Him; trusting Him for present power; trusting Him to subdue all inward corruption; resting in the conscious joy of a complete salvation; a salvation from all sin: willing that He should be truly supreme. That is NOT NEW, YET IT IS NEW TO ME. I seem to have got to the edge only, but to the edge of a sea that is boundless.

Christ literally ALL seems to me now the power-the only power-for service; the only ground for unchanging joy. Now, then, is this faith increased? Only by thinking of all that JESUS is and all that He is for us: His life, His death, His work, HIMSELF, as revealed to us in His Word, to be the subject of our constant thoughts. Not a striving to have faith, or to increase our faith, but a looking off to the FAITHFUL ONE seems all we need-a resting in the Loved One entirely for time and eternity. IT DOES NOT APPEAR TO ME ANYTHING NEW-only formerly misapprehended." FROM FAILURE TO TRIUMPH That was the letter, and the sentence which arrested Hudson Taylor’s attention was the last one-"Not a striving to have faith, but a looking off to the Faithful One seems all we need."

We have quoted these letters at length, partly because they sum up all we have been trying to teach in these pages; but chiefly because both these men of God confess that such teaching is NOT NEW, yet both have failed to apprehend it, although they were simply yearning for a life of Victory. As the writer looks back on his past life, nothing so surprises him as the fact that he failed to see, or grasp, or apprehend this Victorious Life teaching, although it is not new, although it is so plainly taught in Scripture.

Why is this? Why do so many devout scholars fail to claim, or even seek, a life of Victory? We cannot help feeling that it is because many read the Bible critically-yes, and devoutly and reverently-but without really claiming the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Many scholars will indignantly deny this. But we feel that it is so. We do not accuse anyone of deliberately rejecting the help of the Holy Spirit- but of deceiving themselves, or at least of being deceived.

Even the saintly Bishop Moule confessed that although he was Principal of a Theological College, he not only failed to grasp the meaning of this teaching, but was confident that it was wrong-unscriptural-until the light dawned. Many of our readers will remember how Bishop Moule came to see these truths when on a visit to Scotland. And all the world knows how full of it his books are.

UNDER THE SPIRIT’S POWER The writer would like to suggest the following as an explanation of some of our blindness. Paul says, "The letter kills: it is the Spirit that giveth life" (2 Corinthians 3:6). Unless then the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word, it is not life-giving and no Victorious Life can result. Our Lord once said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Not by every word that proceeded. The word is in the present tense, "proceeds." Now the word is always proceeding. That is to say, the Holy Spirit takes the "letter that kills" and brings it home with power and life to the hearts of those who rely upon Him to do so. The disciples had heard many things they could not understand-hard sayings-but Christ said, "When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He shall guide you into all the truth; for He shall not speak from Himself, but what things soever He shall bear, these shall He speak" (John 16:13).

Now we live by the same written word which the Lord IS SPEAKING to us through the Holy Spirit -- the word which, through the Spirit, is still "proceeding" out of the mouth of God. The Holy Spirit is called in the Nicene Creed "The Lord and Giver of Life." it is He Who gives us the Victorious Life. But He does it by revealing to us the WORD OF GOD-not only the meaning of the written word, but by giving us the indwelling Christ-The "Word." Christ is born in us, as it were, and lives in us "by the operation of the Holy Spirit."

One is often asked the question: "Is the Victorious Life the same thing as the fullness of the Holy Spirit?" Well, what is the work of the Holy Spirit? He comes in all His fullness not to speak for Himself, but to reveal the Lord Jesus Christ, and to lead us into all truth. "He shall glorify Me," says Christ, "for He shall take of Mine and shall declare it unto you." WHERE SO MANY FAIL

"There is nothing new in all this!" is the impatient, well-nigh querulous comment so often made concerning this teaching. But the very tone of voice betrays an unwillingness to attempt to really assimilate this ancient teaching. The real trouble is that so many people who deplore higher criticism, themselves indulge in what we venture to call Highest criticism. They must acknowledge that this Victorious Life is scriptural, but they openly declare that it is impossible. They do not deny the truth of the Word of God, but they tacitly believe that it is unworkable. If our faith were but more simple, Oh, if we could only just take Christ at His word! If we only had a simple childlike faith in God!

If our faith were but more simple We should take Him at His word; And our lives would be all sunshine In the glory of the Lord.

Let us explain what we mean by highest criticism. We mean absolutely refusing to believe that it is possible to obey all God’s commands. Now the joy which is inseparable from the Victorious Life is from just taking God at His word.

Take such a definite command as Php 4:6, "In nothing be anxious." Do we obey it? Do we believe it is God’s will that we should never have an anxious thought? Many Christian people must sadly confess that their experience is that they are anxious about everything. The writer a few years back consulted an eminent physician, who expressed an opinion-wrongly, as events proved-that the heart was overstrained and that a long rest was imperative. Anxiety was clearly noted by the doctor, for he said, "May I make a remark about you clergy? Many people consult me, but I find that you leaders of religion are JUST AS ANXIOUS about your bodies as men who profess no religion at all." What a rebuke! The writer stood condemned-and felt condemned; but his anxiety still remained! Why? Simply because he did not know the secret of the indwelling Christ.

SURE OF THREE THINGS

He was not acting up to what he professed to believe. He had often quoted to others the God-given command, "Cast thy burden upon the Lord and He shall sustain THEE" (Psalms 55:22). "Casting ALL your ANXIETY upon Him, for He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Yet here he was, anxious and troubled over his physical condition, when God’s very plain and definite command is "In nothing be anxious."

There was clearly something wrong with the spiritual life. What was it? Not blind unbelief, but blank unbelief! "We may be quite sure of three things," says Francis Ridley Havergal. "First, that whatever our Lord commands us, He really means us to do.

"Secondly, that whatever He commands us is ’for our good always.’

"And thirdly, that whatever He commands, He is able and willing to enable us to do, for ’all God’s biddings are enablings.’" Now is there any reason for the slightest anxiety in one wholly surrendered to God? Dare we ever doubt His love or His ability to provide for us? Why, if a believer only obeys this one command of God, "In nothing be anxious," he finds heaven begun on earth below. But it is impossible for ME to keep that command. So Christ just comes to dwell in my heart, to live His life in me, and to do what I myself cannot do.

Said the sparrow to the robin:

"I should really like to know Why these anxious human beings Rush about and worry so."

Said the robin to the sparrow:

"Friend, I think that it must be That they have no Heavenly Father Such as cares for you and me."

Now we do know our Heavenly Father, Who gave us His own SON. "Shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). Then why be anxious?

If you really desire the Victorious Life, you must "Cast-’roll off’ the word means-all your anxiety upon Him." For if you keep any of your worry, there is something wrong with your spiritual life and you cannot enjoy the life more abundant; for you fail to trust God.

Now Christ, living in you, can alone give you miraculous power to obey His command, "In nothing be anxious." DO WE BELIEVE GOD’S WORD?

We were speaking a little time back about the possibility of freedom from sinning. There are two very definite statements in Scripture, which show that Christians need not commit known sins. One is in Ephesians 6:16, "Taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one." The other is this: "God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that we are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it" (1 Corinthians 10:13).

These are really very wonderful statements. What a glorious possibility is here held out to us! For this includes the great root sin of unbelief. Every sorrow comes through sin-every worry comes through sin. And there is a possible Victory over every sin through Jesus Christ our Lord. The question is, do we believe God’s Word or do we not? The usual up-and-down experience of the Christian is not God’s plan for him. If we really believe that the indwelling Christ can do this thing for us, then let us trust Him to do it.

There is another comforting FACT given in the Bible. God says, "My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Corinthians 12:9). This is not a promise; it is a FACT-an unchangeable, unmoving fact. The writer made this remark at a meeting, and a lady came up to him immediately afterwards and said, "But you left out the condition." "What condition?" "Why, there must be faith before God’s grace can be sufficient," said she. But, dear reader, whether you have faith or whether you have not, does not and cannot alter a FACT! "God’s grace is sufficient for you," whether you believe it or not. There was always "bread enough and to spare" in the Father’s house, even when the prodigal was in a far country desiring to be fed upon the husks the swine did eat! Always enough and to spare: he had only to go and share it.

God’s grace is always sufficient. God Himself has declared it to be so. When sudden temptation comes upon you unawares, do you stop to pray for deliverance from it-or do you look to Christ for victory over it? Someone has said, "When tempted, do not begin to ask ’HOW can I get out of it?’, but ’WHAT can I get out of it?’ "The peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and YOUR THOUGHTS in Christ Jesus" (Php 4:7 RV). The Lord Jesus is dwelling in the heart to banish even the thought of evil before it can become sin.

If you are troubled with evil thoughts, claim this promise-that the indwelling Christ can indeed guard our "thoughts." It was this verse, "My grace is sufficient for you," which led that veteran Christian warrior, Preb. Webb-Peploe, into the Victorious Life. After the crushing sorrow of losing a beloved child, he tried to prepare a sermon with this as his text. But he could not "cast his burden upon the Lord." Rising to his feet he cried out to God in his agony, "Oh, God, it is not true. I do not find Thy Grace sufficient for me in this heavy sorrow that has befallen me. But, oh, MAKE it sufficient." A GREAT EXPERIENCE

Falling on his knees, he repeated this prayer. Then through his tears he saw over the mantelpiece an illuminated texta-card, "My grace is sufficient." In a flash he saw his mistake! "What a fool I am," he cried. "How dare I ask God to MAKE what is! I will get up and trust Him." And he did trust Him. We all know what the entrance into the Victorious Life meant for Webb-Peploe, and through him, for the whole world! So also Paul, who knew that God’s grace was sufficient, could promise this: "My God shall fulfil every need of yours according to HIS RICHES IN GLORY (what a treasury!) IN CHRIST JESUS (what a Saviour!)" (Php 4:19).

Fellow-Christian, can you conceive any greater promise?

All my need shall be supplied, All I want in Thee I find. This supply is moment by moment. The manna just fell day by day. As one dear saint has said, "God gave me a great fortune-placed thousands and millions to my credit. But gave me a cheque-book with this one condition, ’You never can draw more than you need at the time.’" We have to learn to take from Him our spiritual life every second.

Just one other command-as binding as "thou shalt not steal." It is this. "Rejoice in the Lord." Have you thought out what these words mean? It is not a call to rejoice in our oneness with Him; or in the means of grace given us; or His work in us; or in our fellowship with Him. We are not bidden so much to rejoice in what He is to us, or what He is working in us, but just to rejoice in HIM in HIM HIMSELF-to rejoice in what He is and has in Himself. Do you not see what a wonderful cause of rejoicing this is? If our joy consists in His giving us victory over sin, our joy goes if we are overtaken in a fault. If our joy rests upon His work in and through us, we may not always be conscious of just what He is accomplishing, and we may be exalted or cast down unduly. But if our joy is in HIM and what HE is, that cannot change or fluctuate, and we can always abound in joy. Rejoice in the Lord: "Jesus Christ, Whom having not seen ye love; in Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:8); "He that glories let him glory in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31); "O magnify the LORD with me!" Think often of Him. Let His wondrous glory be the theme of your thoughts and your songs. Ever recollect that it is HE-This glorious One-Who dwells in your heart by faith. And if He is supreme, then you can say, "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me," and joyfully add, TO ME TO LIVE IS CHRIST.