“Two distinct companies of spiritual children of God have been developing side by side throughout the Christian Age. One class is designated a “little flock,” and the other “a great multitude.” (Luke 12:32; Rev. 7:9.) Not that one is called to be a member of the little flock, and another a member of the great company, but all are called to be of the little flock to whom it is the Father’s good pleasure to give the kingdom, and to be joined in heirship with Jesus Christ, as his Bride. As Paul declares, “Ye are all called in one hope of your calling.” Eph. 4:4.
All these start on the same narrow way, and being fully consecrated to God are begotten of the Spirit through the word of truth. Hence all are “new creatures” – spiritual – their old nature (the human) being doomed to certain destruction by their own free will and covenant. Therefore, if these ever develop it must be as spiritual beings. The human perfection, physical, mental, and moral, to which the world may attain in the next age, is now out of the question to these consecrated ones; that having been presented by them and accepted by God as their sacrifice. If these fail to develop as “new creatures” – spiritual – there is no other hope for them: Death is the only alternative.
To be developed as new creatures, the old nature with all its hopes, ambitions, etc., must die. But to steadily put it to death, of our own continuous free will, is no light task, and this becomes more and more difficult, as the way narrows down to its end. Only a minority of all who in good faith make the consecration, run with patience to the end – in all only a “little flock.”
With many, courage begins to fail, and they need to be spurred onward by the chastening rod of him who has become our surety (Heb. 7:22) to guarantee that we fulfill our covenant, though our own efforts should fail; otherwise, the end of such must be death.
In love, therefore, special afflictions are sent upon the consecrated, when needed, to wean the affections from earthly things, and to draw the heart again into closer sympathy and communion with God in fulfillment of its covenant of sacrifice (Psa 50:5; Rom 12:1). A few only run patiently in the way of sacrifice, rejoicing at the privilege of winning so great a prize at such small comparative cost.
The great company, we read, come up through great tribulation, which the “little flock” escapes (Rev. 7:14; Luke 21:36), and yet some in each company may have come through the very same experiences. To one it is great tribulation because he looks at the things that are behind, and weighs their value in the scales of this world; to the other it is but a light and easy yoke, because forgetting the things that are behind, he presses toward the prize of our high calling.
“To him that overcomes,” rendering a cheerful and willing sacrifice, even unto death, our Lord says, “will I grant to SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE” (Rev. 3:21).
And of the “great company” also beloved of the Lord, and rightly exercised by his chastening rod, it is said, “Therefore are they BEFORE THE THRONE of God, and serve him day and night in his temple.”
Both companies are developed as spiritual beings, but the little flock to the highest order of spiritual being – the divine nature. Let us, therefore, seek to render unto the Lord that which is well pleasing to him, a cheerful, constant, willing sacrifice. “God loves a cheerful giver.” “Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might.”
Would the bridegroom want for his bride one who would come with any other spirit?
No, faithfulness under difficulties is the test of her love and devoutness.
At first sight Heb. 12:5-10 may appear to be out of harmony with this thought, but the Greek words “paideuo” and “paideias” in the King James translation rendered chastened and chastening, signify, to discipline, to instruct, to teach, to chasten. But chastening becomes a part of discipline only when the subject is an unwilling one. The Diaglott very clearly expresses the Apostle’s thought. It reads, “My son, slight not the discipline of the Lord, neither be discouraged when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives”.
“If you endure discipline, God deals with you as with sons; for is there any son whom a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline of which all have become partakers, then truly you are spurious and not sons. Have we then received discipline from our natural father, and we reverenced them; shall we not much rather be submissive to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days disciplined us according as it seemed right to them; but he for our advantage in order that we may partake of his holiness”.
Yes, we all need the disciplining, training and scourgings to which our heavenly Father is now subjecting all his spiritual sons, that we may be prepared for the responsible positions to which we shall shortly be assigned. If we never have received, and know nothing of, this discipline, this training, then we may be sure we are not sons.
Even Jesus, the perfect man, received it, shall we then hope to escape it?
Not unless we despise it, refuse to receive it, and turn our backs upon it, ignoring our covenant entirely, which open rebellion Verse 9 implies and Heb. 10:26, 27, clearly states, must end in death.
The discipline which all the spiritual sons receive is the same which Jesus received – the buffetings of the world, the neglect, the cold indifference, the misunderstanding, the unbelief, being despised, persecuted, and cast out as evil, even by some or all of those of our own household; Lawful and proper human desires which conflict with our covenant, as well as all sinful besetments which must be constantly curbed and crucified, however they may clamor with our new nature for their rights, are all elements of our discipline. Then again, the peculiar and subtle temptations of the Adversary which must be met and overcome through faith in the divine promises, which must be diligently searched for, and stored in mind, as the defense against sudden and unlooked-for attacks. Such trials of faithfulness Jesus endured, and overcame, and we, by his aid, “in every time of need,” may also overcome; though not like him, perfect, yet his grace is sufficient for us, and we can overcome as he overcame the world and its spirit (influence); yea, we can do all things through Christ’s strength freely given unto us for the seeking. Phil. 4:13.
Continued with next post.
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All these start on the same narrow way, and being fully consecrated to God are begotten of the Spirit through the word of truth. Hence all are “new creatures” – spiritual – their old nature (the human) being doomed to certain destruction by their own free will and covenant. Therefore, if these ever develop it must be as spiritual beings. The human perfection, physical, mental, and moral, to which the world may attain in the next age, is now out of the question to these consecrated ones; that having been presented by them and accepted by God as their sacrifice. If these fail to develop as “new creatures” – spiritual – there is no other hope for them: Death is the only alternative.
To be developed as new creatures, the old nature with all its hopes, ambitions, etc., must die. But to steadily put it to death, of our own continuous free will, is no light task, and this becomes more and more difficult, as the way narrows down to its end. Only a minority of all who in good faith make the consecration, run with patience to the end – in all only a “little flock.”
With many, courage begins to fail, and they need to be spurred onward by the chastening rod of him who has become our surety (Heb. 7:22) to guarantee that we fulfill our covenant, though our own efforts should fail; otherwise, the end of such must be death.
In love, therefore, special afflictions are sent upon the consecrated, when needed, to wean the affections from earthly things, and to draw the heart again into closer sympathy and communion with God in fulfillment of its covenant of sacrifice (Psa 50:5; Rom 12:1). A few only run patiently in the way of sacrifice, rejoicing at the privilege of winning so great a prize at such small comparative cost.
The great company, we read, come up through great tribulation, which the “little flock” escapes (Rev. 7:14; Luke 21:36), and yet some in each company may have come through the very same experiences. To one it is great tribulation because he looks at the things that are behind, and weighs their value in the scales of this world; to the other it is but a light and easy yoke, because forgetting the things that are behind, he presses toward the prize of our high calling.
“To him that overcomes,” rendering a cheerful and willing sacrifice, even unto death, our Lord says, “will I grant to SIT WITH ME IN MY THRONE” (Rev. 3:21).
And of the “great company” also beloved of the Lord, and rightly exercised by his chastening rod, it is said, “Therefore are they BEFORE THE THRONE of God, and serve him day and night in his temple.”
Both companies are developed as spiritual beings, but the little flock to the highest order of spiritual being – the divine nature. Let us, therefore, seek to render unto the Lord that which is well pleasing to him, a cheerful, constant, willing sacrifice. “God loves a cheerful giver.” “Whatsoever thy hand finds to do, do it with thy might.”
Would the bridegroom want for his bride one who would come with any other spirit?
No, faithfulness under difficulties is the test of her love and devoutness.
At first sight Heb. 12:5-10 may appear to be out of harmony with this thought, but the Greek words “paideuo” and “paideias” in the King James translation rendered chastened and chastening, signify, to discipline, to instruct, to teach, to chasten. But chastening becomes a part of discipline only when the subject is an unwilling one. The Diaglott very clearly expresses the Apostle’s thought. It reads, “My son, slight not the discipline of the Lord, neither be discouraged when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives”.
“If you endure discipline, God deals with you as with sons; for is there any son whom a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline of which all have become partakers, then truly you are spurious and not sons. Have we then received discipline from our natural father, and we reverenced them; shall we not much rather be submissive to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days disciplined us according as it seemed right to them; but he for our advantage in order that we may partake of his holiness”.
Yes, we all need the disciplining, training and scourgings to which our heavenly Father is now subjecting all his spiritual sons, that we may be prepared for the responsible positions to which we shall shortly be assigned. If we never have received, and know nothing of, this discipline, this training, then we may be sure we are not sons.
Even Jesus, the perfect man, received it, shall we then hope to escape it?
Not unless we despise it, refuse to receive it, and turn our backs upon it, ignoring our covenant entirely, which open rebellion Verse 9 implies and Heb. 10:26, 27, clearly states, must end in death.
The discipline which all the spiritual sons receive is the same which Jesus received – the buffetings of the world, the neglect, the cold indifference, the misunderstanding, the unbelief, being despised, persecuted, and cast out as evil, even by some or all of those of our own household; Lawful and proper human desires which conflict with our covenant, as well as all sinful besetments which must be constantly curbed and crucified, however they may clamor with our new nature for their rights, are all elements of our discipline. Then again, the peculiar and subtle temptations of the Adversary which must be met and overcome through faith in the divine promises, which must be diligently searched for, and stored in mind, as the defense against sudden and unlooked-for attacks. Such trials of faithfulness Jesus endured, and overcame, and we, by his aid, “in every time of need,” may also overcome; though not like him, perfect, yet his grace is sufficient for us, and we can overcome as he overcame the world and its spirit (influence); yea, we can do all things through Christ’s strength freely given unto us for the seeking. Phil. 4:13.
Continued with next post.
Return to Index
