03.18. The Touchstone of FITNESS FOR GOD'S KINGDOM

18. The Touchstone of FITNESS FOR GOD’S KINGDOM To belong to God’s Kingdom here on earth, and to have part in that future Kingdom which is eternal — requires indeed a peculiar fitness. Let us apply the Gospel Touchstone, and test it, so that there shall be no mistake. The Religion of Christ, or His present Kingdom, does not consist in mere ordinances — and yet it has much to do with them. Every Institution is bound together by certain outward ties, and is regulated by external laws. All these however may be strictly observed — and yet the great object of the Institution may entirely fail. An Army, for instance, has its proper organization. Each Regiment has its distinctive uniform — and each Soldier is bound to conform to the special regulations, and submit to the special discipline, of his corps. These are all important for the well-being and efficiency of an Army — and yet they are not everything — for boldness, and courage, and skill are also needed, or that Army will win no battles. And so it is with the Church of Christ. Every Church has its own forms, and rules, and ordinances; and if we are true members we shall obey them, feeling that they are a great help and benefit to us. For example, the Church summons her children to Morning and Evening Prayer. Many come, and perhaps are none the better. It is an empty form to them, which they go through, and to very little purpose; and yet to others it is blessed — unspeakably blessed.

Now, these are not useless observances — far from it. They may greatly conduce to our spiritual growth and well-being. But religion does not consist in the most exact and punctual practice of them. There is something inner, deeper, and more vital. They are helpful to the growth of our inward life — but they are not the life itself. They are as the scaffolding, which assists us in the erection of the building — but they are not the building itself. They are as the blade, and the stalk which sustains the corn — but they are not the corn itself. With regard then to the externals of the Church, we should remember that they may conduce to our religious life, but they are not religion itself. Certain Doctrines and Ceremonies may commend themselves to one Christian, but not to another. ’All things (says the Apostle) are lawful, but not expedient’ — expedient perhaps for one, but not for another. We should bear in mind, that after all ’the kingdom of God is not food and drink’ — it does not consist in attention to Outward Forms, but in something of far greater importance, namely, ’righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.’ In other words, it consists in that holiness of heart and life which marks God’s true people, with its accompaniments of peace and joy within. Such is the portion of those who have have by faith realized their high position as His disciples. But as regards the future, our fitness for God’s presence is described in various ways. I can hardly however do better than take the graphic description which our Lord Himself gives in His Parable of the Marriage Supper. He there speaks of a certain ’Wedding Garment,’ which was required of every guest who was permitted to take part in that Heavenly Feast.

Now what was that fitness described by being clad in the Wedding Garment? Some consider it to mean Personal Holiness; and others, the Righteousness and merit of Christ. Here is a little difficulty — but it is not one that need seriously trouble us, so long as we are content and take a simple, childlike view of our Lord’s teaching.

Jesus describes a certain King who had made a Feast. He sends out his usual invitations to the guests. But they, many of them, refuse to come, pleading one excuse and another for their refusal. He then sends his messengers in another direction, bidding those to his banquet who had hitherto been passed by.

Presently the supper-room being filled — he goes in to take a view of those who were gathered; and among them he discovers one clothed in an unsuitable dress, unlike the rest, and without the wedding garment, which was required of all. This person had evidently mingled with the assembled throng, and had hoped to pass unnoticed. With regard to this Wedding Garment, it may be observed that in the East long white robes were usually worn at public festivals; and those who appeared on such occasions with any other garments were excluded. There is a passage in the Old Testament, to which our Lord seems here to allude. It is in Zephaniah 1:7-8. The Prophet there says, ’The Lord has prepared a sacrifice, he has bid his guests. And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the king’s children, and all such as are clothed with strange apparel.’ The Person who invited the guests prepared such a garment for each to be worn on the occasion. These garments, called Caftans, were ready in the house, and were given out by the ruler of the feast to all who applied for them. To refuse then to wear such a dress, would be deemed an insult; and therefore the conduct of the person mentioned was inexcusable. The object of the Parable is clear. It reminds us that the Lord has provided a great blessing for His people; but for admission to the enjoyment of this blessing something more than a mere outward profession was required — a certain fitness, which is here represented by the ’Wedding Garment.’ And what is that fitness? Certainly nothing of our own — for there is no clothing which we possess, that can make us worthy of such a privilege — no clothing, which will serve to fit us for the courts of heaven — no clothing of our own texture, which can bear the scrutiny of Him ’who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity.’

There are four things which we need, each one of us — and without these we can never be admitted into Heaven. We may pass muster in the Church below without them — but we can have no place in the Church above.

First, we need Forgiveness, the complete blotting out of past and present sin, the payment of every debt which can be charged against us. We cannot for a moment imagine the possibility of a single unforgiven one sitting down to ’the marriage supper’ in Heaven. He would be a black sheep in the midst of that spotless flock, a conscience-stricken and uneasy member of that peaceful, happy throng. The existence of even one unpardoned sin is enough to mar our happiness here, and would be fatal to our bliss hereafter. Surely, if we desire to be at peace with God, and to live a happy life, there must be no cloud intervening between Him and us. Our first step then must be to obtain forgiveness — and this can only be through the atonement made upon the Cross, and purchased for us by the Son of God; ’in whom (as the Apostle says) we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace’

What a blessing it would be if we could, all of us, realize this priceless boon — if we could take to ourselves those words of mercy, ’Your sins be forgiven you; go in peace.’ There would be a weight off our minds, and an unspeakable relief to our souls. Go, dear reader, and tell God in how many ways you have offended Him. Tell Him that sin makes you unhappy. Kneel down and mention to Him every sin that distresses you; and entreat Him to look upon you in mercy, and wash away your guilt. Let your language be that of the Psalmist, ’Pardon mine iniquity, for it is great.’ Oh, beseech Him to remove the heavy burden from your soul, and make you to feel the blessedness of the man ’whose unrighteousness is forgiven, and whose sin is covered.’ But we further need Acceptance with God. To be forgiven is an unspeakable blessing, but something more is required for our complete happiness. An offending slave may be forgiven, but he will still remain at a distance from his master. He will still look up to him with fear, and his life will be one of drudgery. But to be admitted into God’s friendship — to be adopted as His child — to be brought into a state of reconciliation with Him — this is happiness indeed, a happiness too which you and I may enjoy. Whether the world prospers with us, or not; whether it smiles upon us, or frowns; whether earthly joy or sorrow is our portion — all is well, if we can but feel that God is our God, and that we are His children.

I lately received a letter from a person, a very true Christian, who had just undergone one of the most painful operations possible. For six long days and nights he was in excruciating agony, his bodily suffering being such that he was unable to speak, or think, or pray. All he could do was to endeavor quietly and submissively to endure the trial he was passing through. And yet he was kept in peace; for he felt that he was accepted through God’s mercy, and that the Savior who loved him, and gave Himself for him, was very near to him. There was something real in this, and something which repaid him for all that he endured. And why have not we the same peace? Why is it that any of us remain at a distance from God — when we may be so near to Him? Why is He a stranger to us, when He offers Himself to us as our Father and our Friend? His arms are at this moment stretched out to receive us — and it is only our unbelief that keeps us from His bosom. ’You will not come to me, that you might have life.’ But the true believer is indebted to his Savior for yet another and a higher blessing. Not only did Christ stand in the sinner’s place when He died upon the Cross, paying every debt for us at the cost of His own blood — not only did He procure pardon for us, and open a way for our acceptance — but He made over to us His very Righteousness, handing over as it were His merits, and placing them to our account. Thus Paul says, ’He was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him;’ and again he says, ’As by one man’s disobedience (by Adam’s disobedience) many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one (by the obedience of Christ) many are made righteous.’ And this truth is repeated in one of our Articles (the eleventh), which says, ’We are accounted righteous (not only forgiven, but actually accounted righteous) before God only from the merits of our Lord Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our works or deservings.’

Here is a blessed exchange! Our unrighteousness is put away for the Savior’s sake, and His righteousness is imputed to us, or reckoned as ours. Such is the glorious privilege to which every true child of God is admitted! But the saving grace, which our Lord has by His merits procured for us, does not exclude us from the part which we are to take in the work of our salvation. It is true that, if we are saved — it is God’s work from first to last. If we obtain eternal life — it is His gift. But then there is a great and important work to be accomplished in our own souls — not only a work to be done for us, but also within us. The two beautifully blend and harmonize together. When the sinner obtains pardon and acceptance in Christ, and a better righteousness than his own in which to appear before God — he experiences at the same time such a change within which fits him for God’s service here and God’s presence hereafter. He becomes . . .
a changed man,
a new creature,
a hater of sin, and
a lover of holiness. And now it is his one great desire . . .
to grow up into God’s likeness,
to walk in that narrow path which He has marked out,
to do His will, and
to adorn the doctrine of his Savior in all things. And if, as I said just now, we cannot for a moment conceive the possibility of an unforgiven one in Heaven — neither can we imagine it to be possible for an unholy one to be there. No. There must be a holiness of heart and character — or we cannot be fit for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Now then I think we are prepared to give an answer to the question, What is ’the Wedding Garment,’ in which the heavenly Guest must be clad? It, is not pardon only; it is not acceptance only; it is not the imputed righteousness of Christ only; neither is it personal holiness alone — but all combined. These, these together, are the wedding dress, the complete attire, in which we must appear before God. Without it, we may be among the many called — but not among the few chosen. Without it, we may have our standing within the precincts of the outer fold, but never enter its sacred enclosure; we may be members of the Church on earth — but form no part of the general assembly and Church of the firstborn which are written in Heaven.’ And now I will ask you to pause for a moment before the subject is dismissed, and this last chapter closed. The great King has sent out His message of loving invitation to all classes among us. There are some in the world, whom this invitation has not yet reached: they have never heard of Christ, or of the Feast which He has prepared. Others have heard it — but have deliberately rejected it. How is it with you? Your ears have been gladdened with the joyful sound — has your soul been gladdened by its reception? Christ’s Messengers have come to you, offering you salvation. Have you thankfully and cordially accepted it? Perhaps you have treated the Messenger with kindness — but have put aside, for a time at least, the reception of the message.

Oh, hesitate no longer. If Christ may be yours; if Salvation may be yours; if the Wedding Garment is all ready for you — then decide today, and put in your claim for them. Apply for pardon, a present pardon. Give yourself to Christ, who is ready to receive you. Lay yourself out for a holy, useful, and happy life. Live no longer to yourself, but to God. Ask Him to give you His Holy Spirit to dwell within you, and to conform your life and character to His most blessed image, that you may become holy as He is holy. Whatever you know to be wrong, and whatever hinders you in your Christian course — put it away at once, and declare plainly that you seek a better country, even a heavenly one. Or if you are already His, try to walk more closely with Him. Try to live a yet higher Christian life. Live more by faith — and less by sight. Live for Heaven. So long as you are here, seek to be useful, and while blessed yourself, to be made a blessing to others.

If then I were to draw the portrait of one fit for God’s heavenly kingdom, I would describe him as a soldier having on ’the whole armor of God,’ or as a guest clad in ’the wedding garment’ — as a pardoned sinner — an adopted and accepted son — as one accounted righteous for the Savior’s sake, and progressively made righteous through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit — waiting for, and ready for, the summons of his Lord, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father — inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world!’