The Offensive Cross

This article was published in the Presbyterian Standard, Issue No. 13, January-March 1999.

T HE New Testament church has many privileges compared with that of the Old. The difference is likened by Paul to the contrast between childhood and adulthood: though a child may be destined to receive a great inheritance yet during juvenile years he is treated little differently from a servant, bearing the yoke; he receives instruction and correction from others, being under authority in what will only much later become his own domain. When he comes to age, then does he really appreciate and enjoy the status of sonship.

Knowledge

By many promises, types and ceremonies prescribed to them by God the Israelites, the servant people, were taught patiently over centuries to prepare them for the coming Messiah, who would do in reality what these things merely prefigured. In His redemptive work Christ fulfilled the law and abolished these "weak" elements which by then had served their purpose (Eph. 2:15; Col. 2:14). The evidence of spiritual sonship is in the gift of the Holy Spirit, now poured out upon believers by the risen and ascended Lord, enabling them to come boldly to God and to cry feelingly in a way that was foreign to the Jew, "Abba, Father." (Gal. 4:6). The Spirit's work is always and ever to "convince" of "sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment" (John 16:8): He opens our minds to the truths of Holy Scripture just as our Saviour promised; "he shall take of mine and shall show it unto you." (John 16:15). Do you hunger and thirst for the knowledge of the truth as it is in Jesus? That is a good sign, a token of your adoption into the family and household of God. The wise believer will avoid today's Corinthian crowd who go seeking special gifts belonging to the infancy and not to the maturity of the church: "be not children in understanding...but in understanding be men." (1 Cor. 14:20).

Lamb of God

Do we realise that the humblest believer now ought to be more advanced in doctrine than the saints who lived before Pentecost? We have more revelation (Eph. 2:20; Heb. 1:1-2) and more of the Spirit of Christ (John 7:38-39) to enlighten our minds. In the judgment of Jesus John the Baptist was nothing in comparison with the apostles and those who have followed them in their gospel labours (Matt. 11:11). But can we say truly that we understand "more than the ancients"? Are we diligent in the Word and obedient to it (Psa. 119:99-100)? The day that Abraham rejoiced to see has dawned and we dwell in its abiding light. Our eyes have seen, not bulls and goats offered in sacrifice but God's own Son, the Lamb of God making atonement by His bloody sufferings, bearing away all our sins to a land not inhabited where they are forgotten forever. Yet when we read of the mighty deeds of Moses, Joshua and David, who glimpsed these things but darkly and from afar — do we not feel ashamed? How pitiful our faith and zeal in comparison with theirs!

Exploits

The secret of spiritual strength and success lies in the true knowledge of God: "the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." (Dan. 11:32). But many who profess a saving knowledge do not progress — their hand never grasps the plough of service. Their sword is always sheathed and their trowel never does an honest day's work for the Lord. When the church should be advancing against the strongholds of Satan and sin, "terrible as an army with banners" (Song 6:10) many cling to the comfort of the barracks: you see, the fear of man has ensnared them.

Well may the Lord say challengingly to us all, "What do ye more than others?" (Matt. 5:47). In the end it is not a man's fine thoughts or lofty words that count but his actions. The Scriptures could hardly be more plain: "whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God" (1 John 3:10). Weighed in these balances are we not found wanting?

Gallery

Is there a remedy for our feebleness and lack of spiritual manliness, the failure of our lives to match our privileges? Yes! Study the great men of God and learn of them. Begin with the fathers of Scripture. These were flesh and blood men, subject to the same passions and frailties as we are — yet they played the man and got God glorified by their lives. See them as portrayed in the saints' gallery (Heb. 11); note well their sufferings in behalf of the Truth: tortured, tried, stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain, destitute, afflicted and tormented (vv.35-37). Certainly, "they loved not their lives unto the death." (Rev. 12:11).

There are countless worthies of whom Paul did not have time to write particularly. They include four whose names are synonymous with courage and zeal for God's glory. Even as young men, carried captive into Babylon, the children of Judah — Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah — distinguished themselves by their steadfast refusal to feast on the king's dainties: the fear of a greater King was upon their spirits; they simply would not eat what was forbidden to them by God or drink that which had been offered to false gods; and the Lord made the face of His faithful servants to shine! (1:8-16). Bread and water with a good conscience will prove better fare than any amount of "deceitful meat" (Prov. 23:1-3). God is no man's debtor. He rewards the principled obedience of His children; He has overflowing riches in glory to supply all their need.

Furnace

This experience of youth was designed to prove these saints and to prepare them for greater trials, for they were counted worthy to suffer. The enemy of souls now devised a fiendish strategy to destroy the good influence of these God-fearing men, who by now had the ear of the king and were administering the affairs of state. Daniel's three friends were to be the target. Nebuchadnezzar was stirred up to an act of gross idolatry in erecting a huge golden image and summoning the whole world to worship it upon the pain of fiery death (3:4-7). The devil had observed these men and knew that they would refuse to obey such a commandment: surely, he calculated, they will be consumed to ashes in the inferno.

Confidence

But observe the stupendous calm of the trio in the face of the king's ungodly fury. As the flames rage about them faith burns brightly within them; it fixes, not upon the dire circumstances but upon the truth which is unchanged: "our God whom we serve is able to deliver us...." Faith is in a sense a humble grace. It does not aim to rise above its office, which is to join the believer to Christ who is his real strength. It rejoices in this blessed, unbreakable union: "For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's." (Rom. 14:8). In this happy confidence the child of God commits himself, even in the darkest hour, into the hands of the only-wise God.

Fellowship

There was something wonderful in the furnace — Christ was there! (3:25). The believer's afflictions are sweetened by this — the Saviour takes the opportunity to draw near. The trial is never endured wholly alone, for there is "the fellowship of his sufferings" (Phil. 3:10).

We will have reformation and reviving once again in the land when the Lord's people take courage and declare to each and every modern idol, however intimidating, "We will not bow down! Never. We will burn before we will bend." Neither monarch nor church can be allowed to usurp the crown rights of Jesus Christ and make us to sin. Are we really playing the man? Then perhaps soon the Lord will cease to be "as a stranger in the land" (Jer. 14:8) and many more will be saying to the church, "God is in you of a truth" (1 Cor. 14:25).