Vol 4:2 (Feb 1958)
Editorial
The Apostle Paul frequently prayed for new spiritual crises in the lives of the people of God. His constant hope was that they might reach higher attainments through such experiences. These ideas, and similar ones, are conveyed in the verb tenses which he uses in his prayers for the saints at Ephesus.
“To know the love of Christ” is to enjoy a new and decisive increase of spiritual knowledge after the expenditure of effort. To “be filled with all the fulness of God” is to experience, as an attainment after progressive development, a filling full of all heavenly graces, virtues, and blessings.
The Divine fulness for which he prayed is not “with”, but “unto”, or better, “up to” all the fulness of God. The immeasurable limits of those supplies that we need are set only by the boundaries of the plenitude of the Divine resources.
The Lord Jesus is the sum-total of all God’s wealth in grace, love, mercy, and glory. “For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness (of attributes and virtues) dwell.” Our Lord Jesus Christ is the Divine vessel, and also the Divine content of that vessel. When Christ dwells in the heart experiences of the believer, the fulness of the Godhead is enjoyed through Him.
We are pleased that our brother Guy Cesar of Hamilton has called our attention to Paul’s prayers in the Epistle to the Ephesians. Our brother recently retired from business, but he keeps occupied, not only with the work of the Committee of Food for the Flock, but with other projects through which he serves the Lord and His beloved people.
Mr. Ronald McMillan, Scotland, is another new contributor to our magazine. We appreciate his article for “The Lambs of the Flock,” and hope, should the Lord tarry, that he will favour us with another manuscript.
Fred Squires needs no introduction to our readers, and we suggest that they watch for the second part of his treatise.
Another article by James Hutchinson, Ireland, deals with a very important subject, “The Fear of God.” We might well remember our brother’s admonition not to walk in the fear of men, but of God.
“Beside the Shepherds’ Tents” John Robertson, a High School teacher and a Sunday School superintendent, teaches fundamental principles covering a most important aspect of Christian endeavour among children. Our public relations in this field of ministry have been poorly developed; it is, therefore, imperative that this subject receive very careful consideration.
In this present issue the doctrinal statement on “Angels” by Robert McClurkin is now complete, and we hope that this study has proved beneficial to our readers.