The Fullness of Jesus : O
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' eastern NAZAMENE COLLEGE HEASEfIBRAKV L/ FROM H THE LIBRARY OF tt) /^eA4» Rif/UUt <M‘. McUfJu4/Uf> < ^AZAnEHEO Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015 https://archive.org/details/fuiinessofjesusoOOsimp T-i v'- LIBRARY REGULATIOJ^S 1. INIembers will not be allowed to come o the library for books, but all selections ust be made by means of Catalogue and Ms. .. No member will be allowed to take more Ilian one book at a lime, or keep it longer tliaii two weeks. 3. INIembers are requested to keep at least leu numbers on their cards and erase numbers of books not wanted. 4. Exchanging books with another mem- ber is strictly prohibited. 5. Cards must always accompany books returned. 6. Marking books or turning down cor- ners of leaves is prohibited. 7. Any member injuring or losing a book will be expected to replace it before another can be taken. CONTENTS. The Fulness of Christ ------ i Cliristian Life in the Four Gospels - - - - T2 Christian Life in Acts - - - - - - 27 Christian Life in Romans ------ 43 Christian Life in First Corinthians, Part i. - - 57 Christian Life in First Corinthians, Part 2. - - -65 _ _ Christian Life in Second Corinthians _ yo - - - - - Christian Life in Galatians • - 85 Christian Life in Ephesians ----- 88 Christian Life in Philippians ----- 94 Chrietian Life in Colossians _ - - _ 102 Christian Life in Thessalonians - - - - - iio Christian Idfe in Timoth)' - - - - - 120 From Grace to Glory - - - - - - 130 Christian Life in Hebrews - - - - - 138 Christian Life in James - - - - - - 149 Christian Life in First Peter - - - - - 158 Christian Life in Second Peter ----- Christian Life in the Epistles of John - - - 184 Christian Life in the P^pistle of Jude - - - - 189 Christian Life in the Personal Epistles - - - 199 - - - Christian Life in the Apocalypse, Part 1 . 203 Christian Life in the Apocalypse, Part 2. - - 212 Complete in Him - - - - - - - 219' THE FULNESS OF CHRIST. ‘ ‘ And I am sure that, when I shall come unto you, I shall come in the ful- ness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ ” I. HE FIRST WORD in this text is blessing. It comes to us laden with all the memories of Christ’s first word on earth, and His last look as He left the world. The old Testament ended with the word curse, and the sermon on the mount began with blessed. And, as He parted from them and was carried into Heaven, His hands were ex- tended in blessing as they looked upon Him for the last time until He should come again. And so, this morning as we enter this place, we find those hands are over us still, and we believe those lips are still saying: “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, blessed are they that mourn, blessed are the meek, blessed are they that hunger and thirst, blessed are the merci- ful, blessed are the pure in heart, blessed are the peacemakers, blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness’ sake.” The idea that we always associate with blessing is quite different. When you think of the blessings that you are thanking him for to-day, I am not so sure that you are thinking of poverty of spirit. I am afraid your mind is on the circum- stances of your life, on your homes, your friends, your children, your business, your possessions; but God’s blessing is for the poor in spirit—them that mourn, them that hunger. O, may we come with that spirit into this new period of our work. If we do, we need not ask to be blessed, for we are already blessed and the cloud has fallen on our heads. And if the last stage of the blessing should be suffering, we should not shrink even from that, nor fear to drink the cup of the Master, which has such a blessed reversion by and by when we shall drink the new wine with Him in the kingdom. 2 TABERNACLE SERMONS. May he add to us the more blessed, which is to give rather than to receive, and make it our highest blessedness here not to be seeking blessings, but to be a blessing. This is the word that He gave to Abraham when He sent him out. “I will bless thee; be thou a blessing. So God speaks this word BLESSING to-day. May God speak it to you all through the coming years, and may it be said of us : “Blessed are the people that know the joyful sound, they shall walk in the light of Thy countenance. Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest and causest to approach unto Thee. Blessed are they that are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” For I do believe God is calling us forth for His Coming and to that highest blessing when He shall gather us to His own bosom, to His own table, in His own kingdom. II. Then the second word is “Christ”—“the fulness of the blessing of Christ.” There is another reading of this passage which many of you are familiar with, and it is a very slight change from the present version, but makes an immense difference in the meaning—“The blessing of Christ,” instead of “The blessing of the Gospel of Christ.” Even the Gospel must not come between us and Christ Himself. An old painter made such an excellent painting of the Last Supper that his critics, when they came to view it, saw only the beauty of the cups. They did not even notice the face of the Saviour, and he felt that he had failed. And I might so preach to you the Gospel that you would think only of the ideas and the truths, and you would not see the living one Himself. The blessing Christ wants to give us is the blessing of which Christ is the substance and the soul. Were I to ask you, this morning, what is the most blessed thing in your life, humanly speaking, I don’t think you would say it is your business I don’t think you would say it is your ; house; I don’t think you would say it is even your pleasure; I think every true heart would say; “ The people that I love.” What would that mother take for her child? Would she take TABERNACLE SERMONS. 3 a house or a million dollars for its precious life and love? No ; it is worth more than everything else. There is scarcely a man or woman here this morning who would not, if I asked them the question, say: “ Somebody that I love is dearer to me than everything in the world about me.” A living person, then, is the most blessed thing of my life and of your life. I am sure that is the true answer of every heart here to-day. And so it is in the divine life. It must be a living person there if it is to satisfy. It must be the Christ and not the gifts of the Christ, not the things He can do or can give, but the love that He has for you and that He gives to you. Beloved, is the Christ as real and as dear to you as the friend you love. You would not give up all else for this dear one of earth? Would you give up Christ for this dear one? O, you must say: I love Thee more than all these.” Now, a great many don’t see these blessings as they are centred in Him. They want to get the blessing of salvation, but that is not the Christ. They want to get the blessing of His grace to help, but that is not Him. They want to get answered prayer from Him to work for Him. You might have all that and not have the Blessing of Christ Himself. A great many people are attached rather to the system of doctrine. They say: “Yes, I have got the truth; I am orthodox.” That is not the Christ. It may be the cold statue in the fountain with the water passing from the cold hands and lips, but no life there. A great many other people want to get the blessing of joy, but that is not the blessing of Christ personally. A great many people are more attached to their church and their pastor, or to dear Christian friends, but that is not the Christ. The blessing that will alone fill your heart when all else fails, is the loving heart of Jesus united to you, the fountain of all your blessings and the unfailing one when they all wither and are exhausted—^Jesus Christ himself. O, beloved, have you this blessing of the Christ? Can you say: “I have got Him; I have got His loving presence in my heart. There is a Man stands beside me that I know as I know nobody else. There is a living reality in my heart that ; ; 4 TABERNACLE SERMONS. is better than all I am. I have Him who is the First and the Last. Something has been born within me that is the Son of God. Christ has come to dwell in me. He makes my being part of the divine nature. There is a secret whisper in my heart that I know comes from Him. There is a gentle touch upon my soul that I know is the finger of God. Jesus is mine Jesus is within me. My God in the midst of me is mighty. ‘•Fade, fade each earthly joy, Jesus is mine.” May the Lord make you and me know Him, the power of His resurrection and His living presence, if you don’t know it.