And be Found in Him.
And be Found in Him.
"And be found in him." -PHILIPPAINS 3:9
HERE is another thing which the apostle hath in his eye, namely, to be found in Christ. This supposeth that they who win Christ are in him, united to him, and that they who are united to him will be found in him, when God searcheth for them. Having before handled the doctrine of union with Christ, I shall only speak to this.
DOCTRINE. It should be men's great care, to provide that when God comes to search, they may be found in Christ. Here I shall,
I. Shew how, or when God comes to search, and the saints are found in Christ.
II. How and where they shall be found, that are found in Christ.
III. Give the reasons of the point, and then subjoin some improvement. I am then,
I. To shew how or when God comes to search, and the saints are found in Christ. This world is a confused heap, and many times the counterfeits are found among the jewels, undiscerned; but God hath searching times, in which he will search out men. "I will," says he, "search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled in their lees, that say in their heart, The Lord will not do good, neither will he do evil."
1. One searching time is, a time of plain searching, preaching of the word. The word is God's candle, which he kindles to let men see through their state and condition. "The word of God is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." God carries this candle through the man's spirit, and searcheth him thoroughly. Thus Paul tells us, that by such searching preaching "even an unbeliever, or unlearned man, is convinced of all, he is judged of all; and thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so, falling on his face, he will worship God, and report that God is in you of a truth." Now the false wares of the hypocrite appear naught, the mask is drawn off between God and their own consciences, Malachi 3:1–3. But then the believer is found in Christ, for the word is never an enemy to the grace of the Spirit, "for he that doeth truth, cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."
2. A time of temptation is a searching time. This is a sieve which Satan is allowed to manage for the discovery of the true grain. "Satan," said our Lord, to Peter, "hath desired to have you, that he might sift you as wheat. Sometimes Satan is, as it were, let loose, and temptations abound, iniquity is established by law, and then good and bad are put to the trial. Then the light corn and chaff appear, being driven away before the wind; the world begins to wonder after the beast, stars fall. Then goes the earthly, carnal-minded professor to the earth; the heady, unsettled, light professor, unstable as water, falls away; the proud, conceited professor appears as he is, like a tall barren tree. But then saints are found in Christ, sealed and safe; "for it is impossible to deceive the elect," Rev. 7:1–3.
3. A season of the church's trouble, and of persecution for the gospel, is a searching time. A true friend is known in adversity. The stony ground receives the word and holds green, till the sun of persecution arise, and then it withereth. When Christ rides in triumph, many cry, Hosanna, who will afterwards cry, Crucify him. Many run after Christ in a day of peace, that will run as fast away from him in a day of trouble. This is God's sieve, with which he searcheth. They are brought to the waters of suffering, and then bowers down go away back. But the saints are now found in Christ, so that when "Israel is sifted as corn, not the least grain falls to the ground."
4. The time of death and judgment: this is the main thing, though not the only thing aimed at in the text. Possibly some may escape all the former searches, but none can escape this. Now the King indeed comes in to see the guests, and if there be but one hypocrite, he will instantly discover him. At present the corn and chaff are mixed, but then he will thoroughly purge his floor. Now foolish and wise virgins cannot easily be distinguished, but then it clearly appears who are wise and who are foolish. Now goats and sheep intermingle, but then they shall be for ever separated. Then the saints shall be found in Christ, and placed on his right hand. We now proceed,
II. To shew how and where they shall be found, that are found in Christ.
1. They shall be found in him, as branches in the true vine, John 15:1–6. Being thus in him, they are in no hazard of the axe of God's wrath. Barren trees may, and shall be cut down for the fire; but Christ mystical is a tree which the axe may not, yea, cannot approach. "I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment lest any hurt it; I will keep it night and day." The pruning-knife, indeed, may come to it, to cut off the twigs of corruption; but this, instead of injuring, will render it more fruitful. They are in no hazard of the wind, blow from what quarter it will. The wind of temptation and trouble may indeed shake, but cannot break nor remove the branches that are in Christ. They may be made by a violent blast to sweep the ground, but they will never be broken off.
2. They shall be found in a sanctuary, in a place of refuge. "The Lord shall be for a sanctuary to them." They have fled to him for refuge, and so shall find shelter in the worst of times. "Come, my people," says he, "enter thou into thy chambers, and shut thy doors about thee: hide thyself as it were for a little moment, until the indignation be overpast." When God came by a deluge to search the old world, he found them all eating and drinking; Noah only he found in the ark, and there he was safe. They who are in Christ, have laid hold on the horns of the altar: law and justice cannot drag them from it. They are within the city of refuge, where one drop of wrath cannot fall.
3. They shall be found under a covert, and in a hiding-place. The man Jesus shall be to them as an hiding-place from the wind, and a covert from the tempest. This is a covert of blood, the Mediator's blood, under which the guilty creature may sit safely, and abide the search of a holy God; for he sits there, clothed with an everlasting righteousnes, a white raiment, in which omniscience can see no spot. When God searcheth for the guilty creature, but finds him here, "then he is gracious to him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit, I have found a ransom." There is blood sprinkled on the door-post where this man is, and therefore the destroying angel must pass by.
4. They shall be found in the covenant, in Christ's chariot, which is a safe place, Song 3:9, 10; and so they shall be treated as God's own friends, even when he comes to render vengeance to his enemies, Isa. 27:4, 5. We are now,
III. To give the reasons of the point.
1. God will search and find out every one of us, be where we will. "The King will come in to see the guests." We may sit at ease a while, but we must lay our account with a narrow search at last, which will try what metal we are of. There is no hiding from God. "Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the Lord: Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the Lord." Men may deceive themselves, and make a figure in their own eyes, when they are naught in the sight of the Lord. "But God is not, cannot be mocked." The world may be deceived, so that one limb of the devil may hate another, because he is so like a saint. The saints may be deceived, who may take them for full brethren, while they are not father's children. What if even hypocrites deceive the devil himself, in their religious fits, Jer. 17:9, 10; but God will find us out, "for he searcheth the reins and hearts, and will give unto every one according to his works."
2. If God find us, in this search, out of Christ, we are undone. We have nothing to shelter us, he will draw us out of our hiding-places and lurking holes; take off our mask, and spue us out of his mouth. We will be put away like dross, driven as the chaff before the wind, set among the goats, and separated for ever to destruction. "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name given under heaven among men, whereby we must be saved."
3. If we are found in Christ, we will be safe in time and eternity, blow the storm as it may. Temptations shall not totally carry us away, but we shall be born up against the stream. Troubles, though they get over our heads, yet we will find him "the lifter up of our heads," and we shall get safe on shore. When death comes, it shall be without its sting, seeing we are found in Christ; and at the day of judgment we shall be right hand men, because in him.
USE. Let it be your great care to be found in Christ. Our time is like to be a searching time of temptation and trouble; and though it should not, yet death and judgment are abiding us. What should we do to be carried through? Why, if you be found in Christ, as Noah in the ark, Lot in Zoar; you are in your chambers, "no evil shall befall you, nor plague come near your dwelling." Let not the searching time find you at a disadvantage; all those will be found so, who are in such a time,
1. Found in an unregenerate state, "dead in trespasses and sins, and without Christ." This is a dangerous and soul-ruining case to meet God in. God will find these men as Elijah found Ahab, "hast thou found me, O! mine enemy." Two cannot walk together except they be agreed; yet they may meet together, but surely there will be sad work when they meet. Dreadful will the meeting be, betwixt God and his enemies. When these meet, a consuming fire and dry stubble meet; a judge and a criminal. The Judge will say, "those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me."
2. Be not found with the sluggard, in your bed. Be not secure, as God found the old world. It is like that God will set fire into the nests of this generation, it were good to leave them in time, and shake off security; "to have our loins girt, and lamps burning." It was a sad case with Jonah, when he was drawn out of a sound sleep, and cast into a raging sea. It is awful to feel calamities, are we fear they are coming.
3. Be not found, as death finds the wicked, in the embraces of your lusts. "The wicked is driven away in his wickedness." The Philistines found Samson just risen out of Delilah's lap, without his hair. The soft embraces of our idols do but make way for severe strokes from the hand of God. It is difficult to conceive how a man may just make but a skip of it from the enjoyment of his lusts into Abraham's bosom. Nay, rather, God will take these filthy garments, cover them with brimstone, and set them on fire about men's ears.
4. Be not found, like Saul, hid among the stuff. "Lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth most easily beset you." The world is like a long garment, which entangles a man, and unfits him to run and flee from the wrath to come. The rich man, who was thinking of nothing but full barns, and goods laid up for many years, was in a sad case when God found him out. Sit loose, then, to the world, if ever you would meet comfortably with God in the way of his judgments, here or hereafter.
Lastly, Be not found in the devil's camp, among ill company. "A companion of fools shall be destroyed." Lot's sons-in-law might have escaped, if they would but have left their ill company in Sodom, Gen. 19:14, 15. Better go to the house of mourning, than to the house of feasting; the house of trembling, than of riot. "Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful." But if you would abide the search here or hereafter, then be found in Christ.
1. Be found to be in him, united to him, by his Spirit and by faith. No storm can blow down those who are built upon this rock; neither will Christ lose a member of his body, in time or eternity. He is the true ark and refuge, "none perish that trust in him."
2. Be found walking in him. "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him." Walking with him, before him, after his example, "walking even as he also walked." This is to walk in the way of holiness, "without which no man shall see the Lord."
Finally, Be found living in him, and upon him, Gal. 2:20. Those that live in and by themselves will wither, when the trees planted in God's house will be flourishing.
MOTIVES, to urge you to make it your main business to be found in Christ, when God shall search for you in time and eternity:—
1. If you be found in Christ, he will be found in you, so shall you have a double security in a time of trial; for it is a mutual inbeing, John 17:21–23. He will be found in believers, as in his own house and lodging. Christ hath two lodgings: one in heaven. "He inhabiteth eternity, and dwells in the high and holy place." He hath another on earth, the believer's heart. "For he dwells with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit." Christ hath bought both, and he made a journey to take possession of the house in heaven for us, Heb. 6:20; and it is our own house, because it is his. "It is our house, which is from heaven." And he comes to the sinner's heart, to take possession of it for himself, and when they open to him by faith, he comes in and dwells, Rev. 3:20. This will be a grand security. A man will always take care of his own house, especially in a storm, that the winds do not unroof it, or the rains waste it.
Christ will be found in you, as in his banqueting-house. The Pharisees wondered that he was a guest to sinners; and the world will not believe it, because they cannot see it. God's own children often say, how can these things be? Will he come into such a poor house to be entertained, where there is little or nothing with which to entertain him? They do not consider that Christ brings the provision with him. He is such a guest as Elijah was to the poor widow in a time of dearth, and feasts them in a time of the greatest trouble. "In the world," says he, "ye shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world; in me ye shall have peace."
He will be found in you, in his fortified house, as a conqueror. The first thing David did, after he received the kingdom, was to take the stronghold of Zion, which was so well fortified against him, that they thought the blind and the lame could hold it out, 2 Sam. 5:6, 7. So Christ, being anointed king, sets himself to recover the hearts of the elect, held out against him as a stronghold, by a blind understanding, and a lame and crooked will. "But he pulls down the strongholds, and casts down imaginations;" and having brought all to obedience, he comes in to hold it for himself. Now here is another security. Will he quit his conquest? No. "I give unto them" says he, "eternal life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any pluck them out of my hand."
4. His temple house, as the God of the temple. Believers are his temple; as the King of Glory, he hath come in, to dwell in their souls for ever. The soul that was a chapel for the devil, becomes the temple of Christ. There are sacrifices. They offer themselves to the Lord; their graces as incense, and he is the altar that sanctifies the gift. Another security; they shall be under special protection. "His eyes and his heart shall be on them perpetually." He will see to it, that the temple shall not be polluted; and though it should be laid in rubbish in a grave, it shall be gloriously rebuilt.
5. His garden. "I am come," says he, "into my garden, my sister, my spouse." They are a garden of spices, in which the precious plants of grace grow. This is another security. "He will water it every moment," hedge it about and preserve them, as a man doth his garden, while his other fields are exposed, Jer. 17:5, 6.
6. As a child in the mother's womb. "My little children," says Paul, "of whom I travail, as in birth again, until Christ be formed in you." "Christ is in them the hope of glory." This is another security. The mother cannot be executed in law, while she is with child, for that would be the death of two, whereas her life only is exposed.
Lastly, As the soul is in the body, Christ is their very life; he lives in them, Col. 3:4; Gal. 2:20; Acts 2:25–27.
MOTIVE 2. If you be not found in Christ, you will be found in a bad case in time and eternity; in a trying time in this life, and in another world. You will be found as under the curse: laid open to the wrath of God, as the chaff to be driven away with the wind.