The Splendour of His Royal Dignity

Posted on by under George Stevenson

His [Jesus Christ’s] presidency over the church triumphant will continue for ever. Jesus, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood; but his presidency over the worship and services of the church triumphant will constitute, if not the principal, at least one of the main functions of his priesthood in eternity. The splendour of his royal dignity will never eclipse the memorials of his death as a priest on Calvary, which he carried along with him to the throne of God. No; while eternal ages roll on, he will appear in the midst of the throne as a lamb that hath been slain, and by his appearance in this character he will continue to direct, enliven, and stimulate the praises of saints and angels for ever and ever. As believers in the church on earth are sweetly constrained, by the love of God in giving his Son to save them, and the love of the Son in giving his life a ransom for them, to devote their persons and services to God, so the saints in glory will be sweetly, yet powerfully, influenced by the same motives, in prosecuting the services of the celestial world; and these motives will be maintained in constant operation by the saints in light having perpetually in their view the memorials of that death by which they were redeemed to God out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.

George Stevenson, The Offices of Christ

Christ’s Sufferings Are a Rebuke

Posted on by under James Stalker

Christ’s sufferings are a rebuke to our softness and self-pleasing.  It is not, indeed, wrong to enjoy the comforts and the pleasures of life.  God sends these; and, if we receive them with gratitude, they may lift us nearer to Himself.  But we are too terrified to be parted from them and too afraid of pain and poverty.  Especially ought the sufferings of Christ to brace us up to endure whatever of pain or reproach we may have to encounter for His sake.  Many would like to be Christians, but are kept back from decision by demand of the laughter of profane companions or by the prospect of some worldly loss.  But we cannot look at the suffering Saviour without being ashamed of such cowardly fears.  If the crown of thorns no becomes Christ so well as to be the pride and the song of men and of angels, be assured that any twig from that crown which we may have to wear will not one day turn out to be our most dazzling ornament.

James Stalker, The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1966), 64.

Christian Discipleship

Posted on by under Robert E. Coleman

Christian disciples are sent men and women — sent out in the same work of world evangelism to which the Lord was sent, and for which he gave His life.  Evangelism is not an optional accessory to our life.  It is the heartbeat of all that we are called to be and do.  It is the commission of the church that gives meaning to all else that is undertaken in the name of Christ.

Robert E. Coleman, The Master Plan of Evangelism (Grand Rapids: Baker Publishing Group, 2010), 89.