"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

It should be noted that this was God's love. It is not said that the Father loved, but the righteous, the holy God.

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 1 John 4:9, 10

The doctrine is marvelous, and we learn it with joy, but the experience is real and we need to learn it experimentally. None of us, though saved and sure of it, are sinless in practice. We cannot live that way, but the love of God does wondrous things to our wills, and greatly helps us in coming to Him for grace to overcome temptation and live a righteous life. So many Baptists, and doubtless many other saved people, know the need and even feel the desire to live holy lives. But how can this be? The love of God which gave us His only begotten Son has included this provision in the gift of His Son. It is this matter which claims our attention in this article.

The change which you experienced when you first trusted Jesus for salvation surely was the same as mine. I remember the peace, the relief from guilt, the joy, and I also remember the desire to learn more of this Savior. As I thought on that I was made conscious that I was not able to live without wrong thoughts, but I had a desire to think right thoughts and to live a holy life. I have since learned that the desire to be baptized came also and the desire to be a part of the church.

I am remembering that I grew up in a home which believed in church and righteous living. But did this desire come only because of my place in that home? No, for I gained a new desire to read the Bible and to learn of God and His ways. My place in the home did not provide this alone. It is true that the church encouraged me in this. In fact, they soon elected me to teach the Sunday School class of which I was a part. I cannot help but believe this action on their part came as a result of the Holy Spirit in that church. He knew me; He knew the purpose for my life; and He moved the church to act for my good and for God's glory. Surely our God moves upon us and upon others who influence us. He has arranged for this help so that we can draw near to Him and be happy serving Him.

The Bible Gives the Answers
In a recent issue of the paper I mentioned Abraham, Job, and others who were said to speak to men of things not mentioned in the written Word at that time. Many other passages tell us that this happened, even after the first books of Moses were written. The witness which God has reserved for Himself is strong and tells men much more than one might suppose.

The nineteenth Psalm tells us this. The first six verses describe the testimony of God which is written all over His handiwork. It is there for all men to see. By that work every man is brought to know God enough to be without excuse. This is clearly stated for us to know it now.

Read Rom. 1:18-20 where we are told that God has always made himself known as God. But men need more than nature to be convinced of God's eternal power and His nature as God. God has revealed this "in them," and has "showed it to them" so they are "without an excuse." Because of His love, though, God has gone much farther, has given us the perfect means for being reconciled to God. This came in the form of the Word of God, that is, His only begotten Son.

The living Word was in the beginning with God (Jn. 1:2). He was manifested in Old Testament times as the "angel of the Lord." This one, and two other angels, were seen by Abraham as he sat in his tent door in Mamre (Gen. 18:1). Abraham recognized him as his Lord. So did Jacob after wrestling with him all night. In Psalm 19:1-6 the creation, that is, the heavens, are said to speak and declare God's glory in every language over all the earth. The last verses (Ps. 19:7-14) give a descriptive explanation of the Old Testament's written portion.

The Blessed Part
The first page is introductory to what we now want to set forth. It seems that many believers, even in the Lord's one true church, have produced a theology from the New Testament record which puts an emphasis on the written record. We agree that it is essential to our understanding and very important, but most believers, in spite of their original familiarity with God and the Christ, have come to neglect, or even reject, the personal fellowship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

"And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. 18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. 20 At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? 23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me." (John 14:16-24

It was Judas, not Iscariot, who had a question about the Lord's showing himself to the disciples but not to all men outside. This surely suggests that he had not been listening well to what Jesus had said. Surely we all are interested in Jesus' answer as to what it takes for the Lord to manifest Himself to His disciples. In verse 16 he had promised the Comforter. This word means one who is called alongside, or to visit, with a view of bestowing certain blessings. He might correct one who was straying or wavering. He might instruct one who was not clear on the truth. He would help or aid one in need or in trouble or distress. Jesus went on to describe this one as "the Spirit of truth" (Jn. 14:17). In this capacity He brought to the memory of the original disciples, the church, those things which He had taught them (Jn. 14:26), and would go on teaching them.

We need to remember that the promises in this passage (Jn. 14:16-24) were not made to all men, but to the disciples of the original church. Remember also, that the world, all others, "cannot receive, because it seeth him not. Neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.) (v. 17). Does this make you ask with Judas, how? Why? His answer includes a statement which surely must be heeded: "At that day ye shall know that I am in my father, and ye in me, and I in you" v. 20).

This should have given them peace and love for Him, but their fear of His going away left them in doubt. So many today, like Judas, do not know nor experience the peace, the joy, the teaching, and the love of the Lord. The Comforter is not present as He would like to be. Note Jesus' answer to Judas, "If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him and make our abode with him" (Jn. 14:23).

Are you thinking with Judas that He is not making Himself manifest. Indeed, is He not? How would he do that? It was Judas' question. Jesus' answer suggests that if one is obeying the Lord and keeping His sayings, he will experience this Comforter's presence in the person of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He will know it by the peace in their hearts and the love they are experiencing. Then there is the discernment of truth granted to those who enjoy this promised Comforter's coming.

David was chosen as a covenant king in Israel, a matter which he cherished greatly and often referred to as "the sure mercies of David." (Acts. 13:34). This is the song in Psalm 18:1-2 and was quoted by Isaiah (55:1-12). Who knows how much joy men of faith found in singing this song (Ps. 18:1-50)? Because this song echoes the heart of one who went regularly into the presence of the Lord, who often experienced deliverances at His hands, we need to look again at it and see just how much peace, joy, hope, gladness, thankfulness, and other evidences of faith are ours for enjoying the God of our salvation, enjoying the personal presence of the Father , the Son and the Holy Spirit

Turn to Psalm 18 and read it slowly and carefully. Remember he has a song in his heart. I am talking of David. God had made a covenant with him (2 Sam. 1:1-20: cf. Psalm 89:1-52). The Psalm shows that the song was in David's heart there and it is very much like the language which spoke of "the sure mercies of David."

Now for a time may we go back to Psalm 18 and observe the way David's thoughts spilled out as He sang of God's sure mercies. Yes, David was a prophet and a poet, but could not you or I approach God who has just saved us. Is there not in our hearts a song of joy and sweetness that God has so loved us as to allow us to come to Him?

The matters which filled our consciences in such a moment may not have had the drama of David's language. It may not fit us exactly, but does not our heart remember his access as soon as we realized that He was dealing with us. Then when we admitted His care and surrendered to Him He walked right in and claimed us as His own and began to fill our minds with His Divine presence.

Try to enumerate the ways in which David reviewed God's greatness and how our hearts readily admitted Him in that moment. It may have been that very day or it may not have been for a few days that we began to realize His greatness and to rejoice that we were His servant. God, His Father, may soon have registered by the Spirit in our minds as our Father. Enough of His Person began to show to our consciences that He had chosen us and had a purpose for us. I dare say, for so it was with me, that He opened to us avenues of love for Him and an appreciation for His power and wisdom as made us desire to go to Him with greater and greater frequency.

Compare the yearning produced by a letter from one whom we love and who has been present to prove his/her love to us. No letter can quite supply the tenderness, the overwhelming emotion of the presence, and so God has provided His presence to those who have experienced His saving power and love in the initial experience of His saving grace. He has gone back to the Father, but, remember, He promised not to leave us orphans (KJV "Comfortless." "I will come to you" (Jn. 14:18).

Please go on to v. 19 to get an explanation of what He meant: "Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also." The "little while" was that short time he was in the tomb, but it goes on to cover a "little time" in spiritual terms before the Lord comes back in person. During this "little time" the Lord promised to manifest Himself to His disciples but not to the world. Members of His church should be better able to verify His presence and sense Him for themselves, for their comfort and joy. At the coming back there is to be a marriage. Meantime, this "lover" comes to encourage and sustain His chosen beloved ones, as they seek His presence and obey His directions.

Genuine worship became the sense of our soul's desires. Very soon it occurred to us that we should be baptized and identify with the disciples of the Lord before us, even a local church. Depending on what we had been taught at home, or in the services, we had the door opened for development in grace, a maturing of the soul. This may have produced a need for modified definitions of the meaning of such things, as baptism, faithfulness, obedience and eternal life.

If your initial experience of this grace was presented to you by members of a church like that which Jesus left and in whom he promised to be present, you were made to see that it is important to be baptized. I recall that it was announced at the services, either the night when I professed to have trusted Him, or as the last service of the revival was being closed, that there would be a baptizing in a few months.

It was Summer, no lake was closer than eight or ten miles, and there were no borrow pits holding water enough. I was willing to allow the brethren to work out this circumstance, but I was anxious to have it happen, though at that time I had very little idea of why a baptizing was needed. I do remember that it had been taught that Jesus was baptized before he began his ministry, and that heaven had sent a man, John, also called "the Baptist," to "make ready a people prepared for the Lord."

I do not recall having thought that this preparing of a people was any more than a people to follow Him. But as I look back on the lesson, was it not people who had already learned that He was the Savior who had died for us? Yes, it was! His coming to manifest Himself was with a view to maturing them spiritually in service to Him. Much of the New Testament deals with this maturing. Different titles are used to describe the process. "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling" (Phil. 2:12).

This is a development of the mind in understanding and service.

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10

Thus, the "are ye saved" in v. 8 is a reference to the saving of the life. This is a covenant passage. See the analogy in Eph. 2:11-18. God in His grace has given His Son to bring a peace to the world which a covenant people are prepared to serve God efficiently, whereas Israel in the flesh utterly failed Him.

During the last year or more I have gone back and dealt with Genesis in most of its chapters. We specially note the call of Abraham, the development of the nation through the sons of Jacob, a grandson of Abraham. It was most interesting to note that the whole story of the covenant nation, Israel, furnishes us with God's plan for reaching all nations, not just Israel or Jews. But their backsliding resulted in their being cut off as God's covenant people, and a new covenant unfolded. This last was confirmed by the Christ in His death and it is called the New Testament (Covenant) in our King James Bibles (cf. Gal. 3:17-29; Jer. 31:31; Heb. 8:8, 13; 12:24). Now describe the blessing another way.

My reading over this section of this article, unbroken by subheads, leaves the impression that I am not getting through to many of my readers.

What Is The Blessing?
I have called it a visit. The Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, when we obey the voice of the Christ, all three of the members of the Godhead come and "make their abode" with us (Jn. 14:23). This visit is to make Jesus, even God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, manifest to us. This KJV word, "make manifest," is not as well understood as it ought to be. We need to know what God is like, what His Son is like, and what His Spirit is like, During His personal ministry on earth Jesus showed us just what God is like. He often spoke of His Father, admitted His power and authority, acknowledged His submission to Him, spoke, prayed, and obeyed Him, that we might see what God is to be like in our own lives.

More than mere conviction in mind, his language suggests that the power of God would work out in the life of His disciples all of these evidence of their belonging to God. I have not avoided the word love deliberately, but surely the love of God in Christ is the most demanding testimony of His Person that we have. He said He would no longer call his disciples servants, but "Friends" (Jn. 15:15). A friend knows what His friend does, what he thinks, how he feels, what he plans, where he has been, where he plans to go, and what he plans to do. I hope we, unlike Judas, get this message, for we are to be like Christ, more and more. He told us about His Father and showed a disappointment when some of his closest disciples failed to grasp what he meant.

John, the beloved disciple, seems to have picked up on the meaning more than some of the others. At least he was able to say it in words that are plain:

"In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him." 1 John 4:9

One truly lives when He senses the emotions, knows the plans, feels the love of his close friend. I know, there are "pretend friends," the kind that come and go, but there is a genuine Friend, the Lord Jesus (Proverbs 18:24 NAS95) "A man of too many friends comes to ruin, But there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." (Pr. 18:24 RSV) "There are friends who pretend to be friends, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

I feel a sense of surprise when brethren read a passage like the one quoted in two versions just above come to a wrong conclusion as to its meaning. It would be good just now to turn to John 15 and read it slowly, prayerfully, desiring to know what Jesus was teaching His beloved disciples. It is an experience that He wanted them to have, enjoy, continue in, and then carry out His purpose to so live that others would know more about their Savior, their Lord and Master, about their Father, and about the Holy Spirit. Please do not miss that story about the vine and the branches. Disciples are branches on the Vine. Each branch partakes of the strength of the Vine, so that they can safely represent Him in the world.

Too many Baptists know only the outward facts of an experience of grace. It is more than a lesson in doctrine; it is a representation of just what God expects of those to whom He manifested Himself.

Manifest His Love
I felt just then, that I should stop and look up the word manifest. My dictionary simply says "to make clear or evident, to show plainly, reveal; to appear to the senses." Even when we know this definition there may be an effort to perform some form of imitation which we hope will prove our position. Going back to our original definition of "an experience of grace," we have the facts. Our lives are to show, give evidence, prove clearly, that we have been with Jesus. Acts 4:13: "Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." When the Christ clearly shows in our lives there is no argument. People may not agree with us, but they have to know that we have something which perhaps they do not.

An Example That Tests Us
My admiration for the Apostle Paul began early in my saved life. It is easy to trace the sense of his living in Fellowship with the Father and the Son. As background of this test may we turn to 2 Cor. 1:1. You should realize before reading this passage that it came after 1 Cor. 1:1.

Likewise it would be well to note that he had spent more than two years at Corinth before leaving this new work. Recall that it was a work among Gentiles, the field to which the Lord had called him and gave him this needy field of labor. He was pretty well grounded in the Jewish religion and so certain of its truthfulness he felt that he should spend his life in destroying the new religion of Christ. His being a religion of formalism, as he was a Pharisee (Phil. 3:5), he was thoroughly convinced that he ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth (Acts 26:9).

This was before the dynamic experience following the stoning of Steven (Acts 7:59). Saul joined those who made havoc of the church, working with great zeal against them. God had other things in mind for him. The change was a marvel of God's grace. It is described in Acts and Galatians, and shows in all of Paul's writings during His life of service. I would like for us to trace his experience as related in the first few chapters of 2 Cor. First may we observe a situation in chapter three, verses 1-5.

I know of no situation which more portrays the work of a believer and the relations with other believers than that seen in these verses. He calls the Corinthians God's letter: 3 "Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart."

Can you not see that even these failing believers at Corinth were a direct work of God, ministered by Paul. He labored, they believed the message, but God created the letter; an epistle is a letter. This letter could be known and read of all men. Do you feel that God is that directly involved in the testimony of your life? Is your life known and read of all men? Yes, but we may not think much about it.

We are so wrapped up in the idea of privacy that we do not think of ourselves as witnesses for God and portraits of the ministry of those who minister to us. This editor is writing with a view of teaching us just how we are "fellow laborers with God":

"For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building." 1 Corinthians 3:9

Paul had purposed to visit Corinth again but in his understanding of God's ways and man's failings he did not visit, but wrote them instead (2 Cor. 2:1-5). In this it is evident that God's influence in our lives is over and beyond our own wisdom and understanding, good or bad. Our reward for such labor, on the other hand, is purely as a result of our willingness for Him to have His way in our lives. Read the details of this in Paul's explanation in 2 Cor. 1:15-24).

Now read Paul's description of his anguish of soul as he wrote this second letter, mindful of their relationship to Him and he to them, and they to God. How can we read stories like this, knowing it is God's inspired Word, without realizing that our lives are directly involved in God's working to reach men, and showing the binding together of God, of His ministers, and of one another? Keep in mind that not only is the work God's work, but it is our work and the many admonitions to us to love one another, to love God, and to enjoy the relationship, declare our relationship with God and with one another, so that a command to love brethren, to forgive brethren, to pray for brethren, and all human parts in the business are privileges that God grants us as members of His body, the church.

In 2 Cor. 2:5-11 we read further of Paul's pleading heart, his understanding of their weakness, his awareness of Satan's direct hindrance in the matter, his warnings to the brethren and their direct responsibility to know and use the advantages of their position to consistently and regularly to repent, pray, confess, forgive, and pray for one another.

Study carefully the verses 12-17 and do not miss the description of the relationship to God we have been given in our being "a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish." This sweet smell or fragrance, must not be allowed to turn into a stench. Note, it is sweet, even when it is a smell of death to those who are perishing, but of life, to those who are saved (v. 16). Being known and read of all men (1 Cor. 3:2) we are challenged to be useful for God and for the brethren. (2 Cor. 3:5) "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God."

A Place For Excuses
There is no room left for excuses. An excuse for not "following on to know the Lord." Is out of order, Hosea 6:3 "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." A proof text from one of the prophets, or from anywhere in the Old Testament, is often as appropriate as one in the New Testament. Hebrews 13:8: "Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever."

An excuse is the same as a lie, most of the time, or all of the time when it comes to spiritual matters.
I note that Paul was very considerate of the weaknesses of those erring disciples in Corinth. Jesus was considerate of error when He was on earth. This is not to encourage sin or disobedience in any of God's children, but it is to illustrate that God is longsuffering.

"And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; 16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. 17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. 18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." 2 Peter 3:15

The Gospel Advantage

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." Romans 1:16, 17

One of the mysteries of the Bible ("without controversy great is the mystery of godliness" 1 Tim. 3:16), is stated further in the text in Timothy. That God would be manifest in the flesh is mystery indeed. That He is preached unto the Gentiles is another. His virgin birth to bring about the first one stated is utterly beyond human logic. When considered apart from the love of God all of these are unreasonable in human judgment. But we must believe that our responsibility to believe him is still declared, though God does all the work of creating epistles recommending Himself even in fleshy tables of human hearts.

If God requires our obedience, it surely is not because He has not made ample provision. It is rather that He wants our obedience so that He can have the glory . Do we willingly give it to Him?