LESSON THIRTEEN – APPRECIATING THE LORD JESUS

2 Cor. 5:14-15 — The love of Christ constrains us because we have judged this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all that those who live may no longer live to themselves but to Him who died for them and has been raised.

THE FAITH THAT OPERATES IN US

In Galatians 2:20 Paul says that the life we now live in the flesh we live in faith, the faith of the Son of God. We live the divine life, not by sight or by feeling in the way we live the physical and soulish life. The divine life, which is the spiritual life in our spirit, is lived by the exercise of faith stimulated by the presence of the life-giving Spirit.

In speaking of faith, Paul refers to “the faith of the Son of God.” What is the meaning of the little word of here? This word implies that the faith mentioned in this verse is the Son of God’s faith, the faith which He Himself possesses. However, in interpreting this verse, we and many others have said that this phrase actually means faith in the Son of God. Nevertheless, the Greek does not use the preposition in here. I have spent a good deal of time trying to understand this matter. After consulting the writings of a number of leading authorities, I have become fully convinced that here Paul is not speaking of the Son’s faith but of faith in the Son. However, we still need to explain why in this verse, as well as in 2:16 and 3:22, Paul does not use the preposition in. We cannot gain a proper understanding of this simply by studying the Scripture in black and white letters. We also need to consider our experience.

CHRIST REVEALED TO US AND INFUSED INTO US

Paul wrote the book of Galatians both according to truth and according to his experience. According to our Christian experience, the genuine living faith that operates in us is not only in Christ but also of Christ. Hence, Paul’s meaning here actually is “the faith of and in Christ.” Paul’s thought is that the faith is both of Christ and in Christ.

We have pointed out that faith is our appreciation of what the Lord is and of what He has done for us. We have also pointed out that genuine faith is Christ Himself infused into us to become our ability to believe in Him. After the Lord has been infused into us, He spontaneously becomes our faith. On the one hand, this faith is of Christ; on the other hand, it is in Christ. However, it is too simple merely to say that this faith is Christ. We need to say that it is Christ revealed to us and infused into us. Faith is related not only to the Christ who has been infused into us but also to the Christ who is infusing Himself into us. As Christ operates in us, He becomes our faith. This faith is of Him and also in Him.

FAITH COMING OUT OF AN APPRECIATION OF CHRIST

Proof that the faith in Galatians 2:20   is both the faith of Christ and the faith    in Christ is found in Paul’s words at the end of the verse. He concludes the verse by referring to the Son of God as the One “who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” In writing these words, Paul was filled with appreciation of the Lord Jesus. Otherwise, at the end of such a long verse there would have been no need for him to speak of Christ loving him and having given Himself up for him. He could have concluded with the expression the faith of the Son of God. But as he was speaking of the way he now lived, his heart was filled with gratitude and appreciation. Faith comes from such an appreciation of the Lord Jesus. The faith in Christ and the faith of Christ issues from the appreciation of Christ.

FAITH PRODUCING AN ORGANIC UNION IN WHICH WE AND CHRIST ARE TRULY ONE

In 2 Corinthians 5:14 and 15 Paul says, “The love of Christ constrains us because we have judged this, that One died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all that those who live may no longer live to themselves but to Him who died for them and has been raised.” As we consider these verses, we can see that Paul’s faith came from an appreciation for the constraining love of Christ. The more we appreciate Christ’s constraining love, the more faith we shall have. This faith is not produced by our own ability or activity. Rather, it is produced by the working in us of the very Christ whom we appreciate. In our appreciation for the Lord Jesus, we shall say, “Lord Jesus, I love You and I treasure You.” As we speak such words to the Lord, He operates within us and becomes our faith. This faith brings about an organic union in which we and Christ are truly one.

A TRUE STORY DURING THE BOXER REBELLION IN CHINA

I would like to tell you a true story which confirms the point that the faith which operates in us comes from our appreciation of the Lord Jesus. During the Boxer Rebellion in China, hundreds of Christians were martyred. One day in Peking, the old capital of China, the Boxers were parading down the street. Sitting in the back of a wagon was a young Christian woman who was being led away to be executed. She was surrounded by executioners with swords in their hands. The atmosphere was terrifying, filled with the shoutings of the Boxers. Nevertheless, her face was glowing as she was singing praises to the Lord. The stores were closed because of the rioting. However, a young man was observing this scene through a crack at the front of a store. Deeply impressed with the young woman’s glowing face, happiness, and songs of praise, he decided at that moment that he would find out the truth about the Christian faith. Later, he did learn the truth and became a believer in Christ. Eventually, he gave up his business and became a preacher. One day, when he was visiting my hometown, he told me this story of how he had become a Christian.

The point here is that this young woman could be filled with praises in the midst of such a terrifying situation because faith was working within her. She was filled with appreciation of the Lord Jesus. Because she loved Him so much, He spontaneously became the faith within her. This faith produced an organic union in which she was joined to the Lord. This organic union is a basic and crucial aspect of God’s New Testament economy. (Life-study of Galatians, pp. 90-92)

Reference: Life-study of Galatians, msg. 10

LORD JESUS CHRIST, OUR HEART FEELS SWEET

Praise of the Lord—His Beauty 171

• Lord Jesus Christ, our heart feels sweet
  Whene’er we think on Thee,
  And long that to Thy presence dear
  We soon might raptured be!

Lord, like the pretty henna-flower,
In vineyards blossoming Thou art;
Incomp’rable Thy beauty is,
Admires and loves our heart!

• There is no music adequate
  Thy grace in full to praise,
  Nor there a heart which could enjoy
  Thy love in every phase.

• Yet, what delights our heart the most
  Is not Thy love, Thy grace;
  But it is Thine own loving Self
  That satisfies always.

• Oh, Thou art fairer than the fair,
  And sweeter than the sweet;
  Beside Thee, none in heaven or earth
  Our heart’s desire could meet.