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I believe the “hardness” (2Ti 2:3) saints endure is the Father’s primary instrument of “conforming” us “to the image of His Son” (Ro 8: 29). Even those who choose to remain unbelievers must endure hardness, but theirs is a witness “against” them, not “for them” (Deu 30:19; Ro 8:28). How we endure our trials manifests how much we’ve learned to trust God; and faith (trust) is a great evidence of our love for Him (Heb 6:12, 15; 1Pe 2:20; 4:16; 1Pe 1:7).
NCGracious Trials
There are various way in which as saints we are tried, but through all circumstances our Father is threading our way, occupying Himself with us personally, our particular characters, etc., in order to develop and mature us spiritually (Eph 4:15). What we want is to realize that our Father loves us so much, we are of such value to Him as that He should take such pains to make us “partakers of His holiness” (2Pe 1:4). We are apt not to believe the activity of His love (due to the old man—NC). Some trouble comes upon us; our Father has been watching us individually for weeks, months and years, watching us and bringing this trouble (2Co 12:7—NC) which He sees is needed for our spiritual growth.
Everything that makes the condition of the heart better is good, and all is grounded on grace. Grace put us in the Father’s presence, makes us partakers of His holiness; and then He says “looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace,” i.e., do not lose this entire confidence in My love. This is the present practical enjoyment of what the Father is for you. If you lose that, you fail (do not manifest possessing His grace—NC). There is nothing that links up the heart with God but grace. “Sin shall not have dominion over you for ye are not under law, but grace” (Ro 6:14).
Walk in the sanctuary of the Father’s presence. You are not come to the terrible mountain Sinai; but having come to the perfect grace of the Father in His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, take care how you walk (Eph 5:1—NC). Grace must be the character of our walk. This is true blessedness. There is no hindrance of evil by terror. The effect of the fire from Sinai was that they “entreated the Word should not be spoken to them anymore” (Heb 12:19; Exodus 20:19). Was this getting on with God? But we come to a different thing. We may speak of the law, but that is not where we are. Now we must be living witnesses of what we are and where we are (in heaven via Christ through the Spirit—NC). We are come unto Mount Zion, which represents grace.
We are come “to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant” (Heb 12:24). We are not come to the new covenant, but to Jesus the Mediator of it. I am I living union with Him who is the Mediator; that is a higher thing than if merely come to the covenant. He will make this new covenant with Israel on earth (“new earth” - see note below—NC).
Having come to the Mediator, I am come to the prospect of all the blessedness for earth. It is sweet to know earth will have it (blessedness—NC), but ours is the far better part (“new heaven”—NC). We are to be witnesses of whence (definition: from where—NC) we are. We come from heaven (because we’re now as good as “seated” there - Eph 2:6). In spirit it is true now. What is true in spirit is more real and palpable than what we see. What is passing in our hearts and minds is more what we are really, than in what our bodies are occupied. The Lord Jesus was a carpenter (as real as any other carpenter), but that was not what or who—NC) He was. So with us, we are brought into all these things with our Father.
Then the thing is to be always a witness of the place to which He has called us in grace. We are come; then we have the Father dealing with us in respect of this place to which He has brought us. Do you say, “This trail or that is enough to discourage me?” But no; it is the Father who is bringing you into it, and He is with you in the place, dealing with you in grace and love, according to the place He has brought you into. In the midst of the company of heaven, each one is singled out—this is, ourselves. Surely this is enough to make us humble and restful.
— Hugh Henry Snell (1817-1892)
[Note: The Jews who believe in the Father but not yet in His Son (Jn 14:1) are the only ones who had a covenant with Him, and who will have a final covenant with Him (Jer 31:31-33; Eze 36:26, 27). The believing Gentile world never had and never will have a covenant with the Father, because those who believe in the Lord Jesus are recipients and beneficiaries of the present and “Everlasting Covenant” between the Father and the Son (Heb 13:20, 21)
Redemption Planned by Don Kistler
In Reformed circles, we hear much about the covenants. We are a people who place our trust in God’s covenant faithfulness. We hear about the covenant of grace and the ... %}
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