Chapter 48. The Second Doctrine (Propounded in the 45th Chapter) Prosecuted
occasion. Though it would be sorrowful for their hearts, it would be far more grievous for you.
Thus much from the metaphor.
Chapter 48 The Second Doctrine (Propounded in the 45th Chapter) Prosecuted Doctrine 2: That a Minister of the Gospel, when he comes, is an Ambassador; he comes in Christ's stead, and what he delivers
(according to his Commission) is to be regarded as if God, and as if Jesus Christ himself, were preaching to you.
For lack of the right understanding of this point, many sermons are lost. If people had this text in their hearts and viewed all the faithful
Ministers of the Gospel as though God and Jesus Christ were present and speaking, how much good would be achieved! When God intends to do good to any soul, He will cause it to see the preaching of the Gospel as the very voice of God and Jesus Christ to the soul. Though many a poor soul (who perhaps has heard a thousand sermons) has seen preaching as merely a man's words, when the time of love finally comes, they perceive the authority and majesty of God himself and of Jesus Christ in the ministry and feel God speaking to their heart. Then it prevails.
This is evident in the text: "As though God did beseech you by us," meaning that what we do, it is as if God himself did it. And do we pray for you? It is in Christ's stead. Now, this applies not only to the
Ministers of the Gospel since Christ's time, but also to those sent by God as His messengers in the past. It was as if God and Christ acted through them.
You have proof of this in 1 Peter 3:18-19: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sin, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit, by which also he went and preached to the spirits which are in prison." This passage has been misused by some to suggest that Christ's soul descended into Hell to preach to the damned, but that is certainly a misguided idea. If you observe the text closely, you will find its true meaning in verse 20: "It was to those spirits who were disobedient when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah."
These spirits lived in the days of Noah, and it was through Noah's preaching that Christ spoke to them. Now, they are in prison. Jesus
Christ went and preached to the spirits who were disobedient during Noah's time, who are now imprisoned. How did He preach? By His
Spirit, through His servant Noah. The preaching of Noah was, in essence, the preaching of Christ.
It is as if one might say, "There was a congregation many years ago that had a faithful minister; Christ was preaching to those souls who are now in prison." Sadly, they are now lost, but there was a time when Christ was preaching to them.
I will not name many more texts, but allow me to provide one or two more. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13, it states, "You did not receive it as the word of man; you looked beyond man. But how did you receive it? As from God, and therefore, it works effectively." This makes the word effectually work upon the heart when people receive it as the word of God.
Also, in Galatians 4:14, note how the Galatians received the Apostle:
"And my temptation which was in my flesh you despised not, nor rejected, but received me as an Angel of God, even as Christ Jesus."
Here, he speaks in commendation of the Galatians, saying, "You received me as an Angel of God, even as if I were Christ Jesus." The Apostle was in a poor and humble condition with regard to his outward state: "[My temptation that was in my flesh]." In his outward appearance, he was very lowly, and this could have been a temptation for them to reject him when he spoke. Alas, this has been a temptation to many, for because the preacher is but an earthen vessel, even if he brings the true treasure of the Gospel, many are tempted to dismiss him.
But, he said, it was not so with you. You received me; though poor, weak, a mean man who had scarcely bread to eat, yet you received me as an angel of God, yea, beyond that: as Christ Jesus himself.
However, you shall observe in the next words that it seems their hearts began to be drawn aside. In the 15th verse, there was a time when I first came among you, and you were ready to have plucked out your very eyes for me, and you cried out, "Oh! This blessed doctrine of the Gospel that we now hear!" But where is the blessedness now? It seems that some false teachers had come and ensnared them, taking them away from the Apostle. "Oh! Where is the blessedness you spoke of?" as if it were now gone.
But that is the duty of people, and it is only when they come to regard the ministry of the word as if God himself were speaking, as if Jesus
Christ were addressing them, that any great good can be done. I will conclude with this one thought: until you come to understand this, it is unlikely that any great or substantial good will be achieved. It will be with you as it was with Samuel.
You know, God called to Samuel: "Samuel, Samuel," said God.
Samuel ran to Eli. "My son," said Eli, "I did not call you." So, Samuel went again and slept, and God called once more. But Samuel did not recognise it was God's voice; he ran to Eli again. Then, the text says that Eli perceived that God had called the child, and Eli gave him this instruction: if he called again, Samuel should say, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." Samuel went back to sleep, and the Lord came and called to him again. This time, Samuel said, "Speak, Lord, for your servant hears." Then, God opened his heart and revealed His mind to him.
Oh! God had called the first time, but Samuel thought it was Eli and looked no further. So, God said no more to him and left him, and the same happened a second time. But when Samuel understood that it was God's voice, you will observe that God wonderfully opened His heart to him and fully revealed His will.
In the same way, people today come to hear the ministry of the word.
They hear a sound in their ears, and what they hear seems very good, but they only see a man; they think it is just a man speaking. They might even commend the man and praise his sermon, but all this time, God has not spoken to their hearts. Then they go a second time, and it is true that God does speak to them, but they do not recognise that it is God's voice. Because they do not know it is God's voice, He does not make Himself known to them.
But when the time of God's love comes, this is the great message sent to the children of men. When He pleads with you, you should recognise that it is Christ pleading with you. When the minister is opening any Scripture to you, you should see that it is Christ himself who is opening that Scripture to you. When you come with such a heart, then God reveals His full mind to you.