BY JOHN BLOORE
(The reader should always turn to the Bible and read the passages referred to.)
QUES. 16.-What is the meaning of 1 Cor. 9:27?
ANS.-This chapter sets before us the apostle's privileges as a servant of the Lord and his surrender of personal rights so as to further the gospel, summing it all up in ver. 23:"And I do all things for the sake of the glad tidings, that I may be fellow-partaker with them" (New Trans.). He stood allied with the gospel, and this put him in a path which he now compares to a race with a prize to gain at the end.
On the race-course each one runs with a view to obtaining the prize. The racer's every faculty and all his. energy is concentrated on the race. Let the believer, do likewise. What is essential to success? Temperance, in all things. It is likewise for the believer.
Was the Christian course one of uncertainty, or vain combat? No (ver. 26); the end and the victory is certain. But there is a path to pursue in which the body-the great instrument for active participation in the race must be kept for the Lord and His service, not for selfish ends and fleshly lusts. The desires and appetites are not to rule; there will be need to buffet them, lead captive, instead of being made captive by them. God's grace not only gives us a place, but also a path to follow because of the place given. Reaching the end is connected with both; for he who truly enters the place of favor with God through faith will also run in the path which leads to the end in view. We are kept "by the power of God through faith" (1 Pet. 1:5). Those not of faith are not kept. Thus salvation and holiness go together.
The grace that brings salvation also teaches us to live soberly, justly, and piously in the present course of things (Tit. 2:11, New Trans.). Compare 1 Pet. 4:1-5. Even if one preached, but did not so run, the end -would be rejection.
QUES. 17.-What is the meaning of Matt. 26:26-28?
ANS.-Read 1 Cor. 11:23-26; compare Heb. 10:10-18, and Heb. 9:11-15; 12:20,21.
QUES. 18.-In baptism some use only the formula in Matt. 28:19; others baptize in the name of the Lord Jesus (see Acts 2:38; 8:16; 10:48) ; and others use the Matthew formula adding the name of the Lord Jesus. What is correct?
ANS.-In answer to a similar query, J. N. D. said, "…. Baptizing according to Matthew is, I apprehend, in the name of the Lord Jesus. I always use the words, expressing however especially the name of the Lord Jesus in connection with it, that it may be understood to be in His name…. The only direction you have to baptize is Matt. 28; but this was from resurrection, not from ascension, and only Gentiles. Still you have no other intimation now, no more than a command to do it. Still it must be, from the practice we have [as in the Acts, I presume he means], really in Jesus' name, and if this be expressed all will be right."-J. N. D.'s Letters, Vol. 2, p. 234.
It may be further remarked that the words in Matthew indicate baptism to the Christian revelation of God in connection with the resurrection and glory of Jesus as having all power given Him in heaven and on earth, while in the Acts, where this supremacy and authority of the Lord Jesus is emphasized in connection with ascension to God's right hand, Christian baptism is spoken of as in His Name-the One preached as being Lord and Christ, and Son of God.