REMINDER that we are now in Chapter 27 of our study of the Principle of Position in the Complete Green Letters) by Miles Stanford – titled Sins and Light.
We pick up our reading where we left off…
Of necessity, the transitional process from a condition-centered to a position-centered life is extremely painful. “Now no chastening [child-training] for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11). “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth…” (Heb. 12:6).
“…. whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth”
I RECALL many years ago going through an extremely difficult time of my life when a dear friend spoke those words to me with a smile. Reciting all that was crushing me at that moment, with nearly ever aspect of my existence being tested in one way or another, my dear friend said, “The Lord must really love you very much.” What? I said with tear filled eyes. “Yes” was the response, because, “whom the Lord loveth he chastens; and you appear to be going through a severe chastening.”
THAT was a long time ago; really early-on in Christian walk. I didn’t understand it then, but I do now. I’ve come to understand the blessings of trials and difficulties, learning the blessings of severe mercies in coming to the place whereby one can truly count it all joy when you fall into various trials.(James 1:2) I don’t always do that consistently or completely, but I do understand the absolute need for Desire Difficulties as the way to “not I, but Christ.” This is the way, the path of hardship. For, “Suffering brings us to an end of our self; only then, emptied of self can Christ enter in.” -anon
WITH that, let’s get to our reading, Sin & Light -Part 2
IN the joy of the Lord,
Joe
Neh. 8:10, Isa. 30:15 & Job 2:10
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Chapter 27—Sins and Light – Part 2
Of necessity, the transitional process from a condition-centered to a position-centered life is extremely painful. “Now no chastening [child-training] for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby” (Heb. 12:11). “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth…” (Heb. 12:6).
In spite of the believer’s good beginning, and in the midst of his joy and activity for the Lord, self begins to creep back into the picture. The indwelling principle of sin once more asserts its tyrannical power, and the world regains its attraction. Peace and love tend to weaken and drain away. The “quiet time” quietly dies. Study of the Word becomes burdensome work. The conscience is defiled; sins are no longer confessed, but excused. The eyes are off the Lord, the struggle with self is on—simply because condition has been given precedence over position.
Now the faltering believer becomes keenly aware of self, and only vaguely aware of the Son. Desperately upset about his failing condition, he struggles to improve himself, all the while begging God to give him relief and “victory.” This is the vantage point Satan has been waiting for. He slyly leads the believer to compare the present condition with the happy, carefree days gone by, and to question every realm of belief, thus shaking all reliance upon the Word and the Lord. He ruthlessly puts the wavering Christian on the defensive in every aspect of his life and walk. He applies downward pressure, and fills the heart with the gnawing remorse of self-condemnation.
When the believer allows the Enemy to spread the choking smog of self-accusation over his life, the realization of his righteousness in Christ is dimmed. The goal of Satan is to lure the believer back onto the ground of condemnation, in order to negate the benefits of his resurrection with Christ and his union with Him in the heavenlies.
Those who are not established upon the “no condemnation” ground of Romans 8:1 make very little spiritual progress. They go just so far and then bog down; their fruit falls before it ripens. But the destroying power of the Enemy is rendered null and void when the believer rests in the truth that “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Rom. 8:2).
Although the Holy Spirit, as Convicter, puts the heart in an agony of conviction of sins, He never points downward. While Satan’s accusation results in self-consciousness, Holy Spirit conviction leads to Christ-consciousness. When He convicts the heart and conscience concerning sins, He leads the believer to the self-judgment of confession. He then points upward to the remedy for sins committed—the blood that has opened the way to the peace and life of our position in the light of God’s presence. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19).
The Enemy spurs the failing one to self-effort by holding the impossible standard of perfection over the very imperfect believer’s head. He agitates continually for immediate and complete rectification of the failing condition. But the patient Holy Spirit, on the other hand, allows time for development, graciously reminding of the ever-available and finished work of the shed blood for our cleansing from all unrighteousness throughout the process of growth. He gently leads the faltering believer from self-centeredness and darkness to Christ-centeredness and light. To bring this about, the Spirit of truth presents positional truth: “If [since] ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God” (Col. 3:1). “For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3, ASV).
…….to be continued.
