Introductory
THE only justification for making a new book, in these days of superabundant reading matter, must be that it has some mission.
This unpretending little book is given to the public with some hesitation, from the obvious incompleteness of its treatment of so vast a theme as “The Past, Present, and Future of the Believer.” But in this case the judgment of spiritual counsellors has been accepted, that even so brief, partial, and cursory a glance at the grand subject may serve to comfort and confirm believers on the one hand, and to stimulate further study and research into the wonders of Grace, on the other.
The “Mildmay Conference” of 1905 will always be memorable, from the fact that, during three days. The Tenses of the Believer’s Life were under devout consideration. It fell to the writer,
Introductory
by no choice of his own, to lead off in the discussion, on the first and second mornings, and to take a leading part in the closing meeting of the third evening. This is probably the reason why these addresses were chosen, in preference to others, as appropriate for a printed and permanent form, inasmuch as they alone touched upon all the grand divisions of the threefold topic.
As, however, the time practicable for each address allowed of only a partial and fragmentary treatment, it has been deemed advisable, in giving them this form, to expand them, sufficiently enlarging upon the oral utterance to embrace some departments of the general theme, whose omission, however necessary at the time of the discussion, would be a serious defect in the printed form. Yet, in such expansion, no attempt has been made to cover the whole ground, even by way of outline, and care has been taken not to destroy the identity between the original addresses and the printed page.
It may not be amiss, however, first to put before the reader the whole scheme of treatment, as suggested to the various speakers for their guidance, and as serving to convey some con-Introductory ception of how much is included in The Tenses of the Believer’s Life. In the following pages, in the Past Tense is included the entire history and experience of the Sinner, previous to the act of saving faith, and up to the moment of his becoming a believer; in the Present Tense is embraced all his experience as a believer from the time of his acceptance of Christ to his departure from this life, or his translation at the Coming of the Lord; and in the Future Tense is comprehended all that lies beyond Death or the Coming of the Lord, in the Eternal State. These defining lines serve to limit the present treatment of the theme.
The Wider Outline
The following is the wider outline that takes in that more extended horizon of the whole subject — impracticable for these pages.
I. THE PAST TENSE.
1. MAN’S RUIN-SIN.
2. GOD’S REDEMPTION — SALVATION.
1. Man’s Ruin —
(a) His Fall in Adam — Generic (1. Cor. xv. 22; Rom. v. 12) —
Immediate Effects — Remote Consequences — Heredity.
(b) Fall of each Sinner — Specific, Individual, Voluntary
(1 Kings viii. 46) — Results: Guilt, Condemnation, Power, Slavery — Penalty: Downward Tendency, Satanic Control.
2. God’s Redemption —
(n) The Plan — Sovereignty of Grace — “Chosen,” “Predestinated,” in Love (Eph. i. 4, 5).
(2^) Execution of the Plan, in Christ — Logos — “Word Incarnate” — Second Man and Last Adam — Life among Men — Example, Words, Works — Death, in liehalf of Men — Resurrection — Ascension — Session — Christ’s Work, Basis of unlimited Offer of Salvation.
(e) Application, by Holy Ghost — Inspired Scripture, as His Expression — Pentecostal Outjiouring — Person, Office, and Work of Spirit.
The Wider Outline
II. THE PRESENT TENSE.
1. IN CHRIST. 3. IN THE WORLD.
2. IN THE CHURCH. 4. IN THE FLESH.
1. In Christ —
[a] Entrance into Christ, by Repentance and Faith — Reconciliation — Regeneration — Adoption or Sonship.
{h) Abiding in Christ — Present Salvation — Justification — Eternal Life — Christ the Sphere of Believer’s Life — Prayer — Sanctification — Preservation — Victory — Whole Armour of God.
(c) Practical Reception of Holy Spirit — Witness — Enduement — Prayer — Transformation of Temper — Love — Service — Power.
2. In the Church —
Confession — Place of Ordinances — Baptism — Lord’s Supper — Worship — Work — Training — Fellowship — God’s Idea of, and Purpose in, the Church — Missions at Home and Abroad.
3. In the World —
Define “World” — Relations to World — Attitude to World — Temptations of World — Peculiar Perils — Satan, God of this World.
4. In the Flesh —
Define ‘ ‘ Flesh” — Carnal Nature — Lusts — Self Life — War between Flesh and Spirit — Satanic Assaults — Whole Armour of God,
The Wider Outline
III. THE FUTURE TENSE.
1. THE INTERMEDIATE STATE. 3. THE MILLENNIAL AGE.
2. OUR LORD’S RETURN. 4. THE END.
1. The Intermediate State —
Between Death and Second Coining — From First to Second Coming — An Evil Age — Nature and Mission of Church — The Divine Purpose in this Age — Its Perils — Development of Heresy and Iniquity- — Alliance of Church and World — Apostasy — Conflict with Evil — Antichrist — Death of Believers — Interval from Death to Second Advent.
2. Our Lord’s Return —
The Coming of Christ — Personal, Visible, Premillennial — The First Resurrection — The Judgment-seat of Christ, and Awards of Kingdom.
3. The Millennial Age —
Reign of Saints — Glory — Full Redemption — Body, Soul, and Spirit — Heaven — Reunion of Saints — New Jerusalem — New Creation — Final Judgment — Great White Throne.
4. The End —
Close Mediatorial Reign — Delivering up Kingdom — “God All in All.”