BEN F. VICK, JR.
“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ” wrote to “the saints” which were “at Ephesus” and to “the faithful in Christ Jesus” the following words: “Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.” (Eph. 1:20-23.) These words express the exalted position of Christ. He is sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Mk. 16:10; Acts 2:30,33,34; Heb. 1:3.) Yet, despite his glorified place, men continue to tread “under foot the Son of God” and “put him to an open shame.” Too many in our day and age have placed the honorable Christ with the common, mundane, and ordinary. There needs to be separation of “the precious from the vile” (Jer. 15:19), and people still need to be taught “the difference between the holy and profane.” (Ezek. 44:23.) This can be done by lifting up the Christ in a number of ways.
Lifting up Christ means to elevate the church to the highest position. It was predicted to begin in an exalted position. Isaiah, the Messianic prophet, wrote, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.” (Isa. 2:2-3.) Even though it is literally so that the church began in Jerusalem which is 2,600 feet above sea level, the prophet has in mind more than the topography of the land. The church began “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named.” (Eph. 1:21.)
Though the church began exalted and glorious, man has tried to bring it down. This is attempted by the false teacher who says, “It doesn’t matter in which church you are a member as long as you believe in Jesus.” But the church cannot be separated from Christ. To do so would be to behead the church, since Christ is its head. Paul says plainly, “Christ is the head of his body, the church:…” (Col. 1:18; see also Eph. 1:22-23.) Any attempt to take the church from Christ is an underhanded endeavor to take the kingdom from the King. (I Tim. 6:15; Acts 2:30, 33; Col. 1:13.) To steal the kingdom is to dethrone the King; but “he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” (I Cor. 15:25.) Therefore, such a rebellion shall not succeed. To ridicule and deride the church is to count or consider “the blood of the covenant...an unholy thing.” It is in essence saying, “The shedding of his precious blood is of no value; it is worthless.” This has to be the case, because Jesus shed his blood for the church. (Acts. 20:28; I Pet. 1:18,19.) If his church is of no value, then neither is his blood with which he purchased it. But the church is valuable and his blood is precious. Therefore, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.” (II Cor. 9:15.) The church is to be exalted throughout the ages: “Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end.” (Eph. 3:21.) “That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” (Eph. 5:27.)
Lifting up Christ means to hold high his word. The sweet singer of Israel wrote, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (Psa. 138:2.) Though the word of the Lord endureth forever, Satan and his servants are untiring in their attempts to steal our spiritual food, disarm the soldiers of the cross, put out the light from our path, remove the seed from the soil, quench the fire, and seize the hammer from our hands. (I Pet. 2:2, Eph. 6:10-16; Psa. 119:1-5; Mk. 4:15; Jer. 23:29.) But we must be “set for the defense of the gospel,” remembering, “For ever, O Lord thy word is settled in heaven,” and that one ay we shall all be judged by the book. (Jn. 12:48; Rev. 20:11-15.)
The devices of Satan, in order to remove that which is so precious to the Lord’s people, are many. Those who teach the direct operation of the Holy Spirit (in sanctification and/or edification) are denying the all-sufficiency of the Scriptures. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (II Tim. 3:16-17.) Those who borrow Jehoiakim’s penknife by the encouragement of modern translations are simply instruments in the hands of a devising devil. (Jer. 36:22-25; Gal. 1:6-9; Rev. 22:18-19.)
Men who have “high regard” for Christ but little respect for his word, in truth, have neither regard nor respect for either. In order to lift up Christ, we must elevate his word as well. Does a child honor his father by wilful disregard for his father’s word? Friend, let us elevate the Bible; and in doing so, we will lift up the Christ. (To Be Continued)
—The Informer
Vol. 35, No. 45. Sept. 26, 1982