HOW CHRIST IS MAGNIFIED

By Dillard Thurman Charting The Old Paths pp. 262-267

Page 263

In writing to the saints in Philippi, Paul stated that Christ would be magnified in his body, whether he lived or died. But just what did Paul mean by "magnifying Christ?" Surely he must have meant that he would serve as a magnifying glass through which the whole world would have a clearer vision of Christ! But just what does a magnifying glass do? Many will unthinkingly say, "It makes things larger. " But this is not at all true. The magnifying glass only makes things appear larger, that they thus may be seen more clearly and distinctly. And in this very same respect, Paul was to serve as a magnifying glass for the world, that they could see Christ revealed in him and have a greater appreciation for the Son of God!

Through many Scriptures it is seen that the world is to see Christ revealed in His saints. Jesus taught, "Ye are the light of the world... Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matt. 5: 14-16). Men are to glorify God because of what they see in the lives of His children. He recognized that the Cause would be evaluated by the world by appraising the lives of its adherents. So, men are to glorify God in obedience by observing the good works performed by His people. Peter stated that unbelieving husbands could be won by devoted wives, "while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear" (1 Pet. 3: 1-2). Let Christ be seen under the magnifying glass of godly living, and the world will be confronted by an unanswerable argument for Christianity!

Paul developed this picturization even further hi writing, "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but hi fleshly tables of the heart. " (2 Cor. 3: 2-3). You can see the Christian is an epistle to declare Christ to the world, yet also a magnifying glass to more clearly reveal Him to them that do not read from the Bible. How very carefully we should consider how Christ is seen hi us!

But that we may fully understand how Christ was magnified in Paul's body, let us study carefully the following points:

His Obedient Spirit

The Spirit of obedience was a paramount attribute of Jesus Christ. When only a lad it was recorded of His attitude toward Mary and Joseph: "And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them" (Luke 2: 53). And from an obedient child to His guardians, He grew hi obedience unto His Father in heaven. "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all of them that obey him" (Heb. 5: 8-9). In explanation of His mission on earth, Je

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declared, "I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him who sent me. " (Jno. 6: 38). Later He reported to His father in prayer, "I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do" (Jno. 17: 4). It was written in His obituary, "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2: 8). Only such obedience could elicit the words of submission: "Not my will but thine be done. " Now, how did Paul show this spirit of obedience to the world? Why, there was no other way than by the same loving obedience unto God! He reported concerning his conversion, "Whereupon, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision" (Acts 26: 19). But this was to become his constant reaction to the bidding of God! Paul obeyed the gospel of Christ with unswerving devotion as long as he lived! His body magnified Christ! Because of the persecutions and afflictions which he faced, he wrote: "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our body. For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Cor. 4: 10-11). Christ's Spirit was so revealed in Paul that he could say, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2: 20). As people saw Christ revealed in Paul's constant obedience unto Him, the Lord was magnified in his body, and portrayed to the whole world.

His Prayerful Spirit

The Son of God demonstrated a prayerful spirit in all that He did. Though there were many occasions when He prayed before multitudes and in public places yet it is good to note how oft it is recorded that He "went apart to pray" (Matt. 14: 23; Mark 6: 46; Luke 6: 12; 9: 28). He prayed before selecting His disciples, He prayed before raising the dead, and He prayed before facing the rigors of the cross. But He also taught His disciples to pray. Don't ever think of the model prayer as a singular discourse on this subject: the Son of God taught frequently concerning how His disciples were to pray.

And Christ is magnified in the body of His saints as they prostrate themselves before the Father in fervent praver. Paul magnified Christ by showing this prayerful snirit. In a dark dungeon in Philippi. Paul and Silas prayed one midnight. On leaving the elders of Ephesus. it is recorded of him. "And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all" (Acts 20: 36). Just seven verses later, Luke wrote, "They all brought us on our way, with wives and children, till we were out of the city: and

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we kneeled on the shore, and prayed" (Acts 21: 5). The most terse statement Paul ever wrote was: "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thes. 5: 17). And he often beseeched, "Brethren, pray for us. " And again, "I would that men pray everywhere. " Yes, Paul magnified Christ by his prayerful attitude. All men could behold such reverence!

His Spirit of Humility

The Spirit of humility was manifest in the life of our Lord. Paul wrote of Him that "He humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2: 8). And after a lifetime of humble service to His Father and man, He humbly accepted the cruelty of crucifixion that others might be exalted! His invitation was extended to all: "Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matt. 11: 28-29). The humiliation of the cross epitomizes the voluntary abasement which Jesus accepted for us.

Paul was to show this spirit in his body, and thus magnify Christ. Turning from position and prestige among the Jews, he declared, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6: 14). Paul had so yielded himself to the Lord that he could say, "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. " (Phil 4: 12). He had thrust himself into the care of the Lord, and humbly accepted what ever the Lord chose for him. And in all this Paul magnified Christ to the world!

Later to saints it was written, "Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time" (1 Pet. 5: 6). "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up" (Jas. 4: 10). Humility in the lives of Christ's disciples magnifies Him before the world!

His Spirit of Self-Denial

The Spirit of self-denial was always very evident in the life of our Saviour. Though heaven was His home and the earth His own creation, yet it was stated: "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. " (Matt. 8: 20). He gave up riches, glory and honor, and denied Himself all the pleasures of the world that we might be blest of God. Then He issued the challenge: "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me" (Luke 9: 23).

The attribute of self-denial was magnified by Paul possibly clearer than hi any other life. He so completely gave himself to the Lord that he could say, "But what things were gain for me,

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those I counted loss for Christ.... I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may win Christ" (Phil. 3: 7-8). Every phase of Paul's life showed Christ's spirit of self-denial to the world. But where is this same spirit of self-denial shown in the lives of His saints today? What have we sacrificed for His Cause?

His Forgiving Spirit

When we think of the Spirit of Christ, we recall the words from the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do. " Christ's spirit of forgiveness motivated His giving His blood that we might be saved. Jesus gave an example of forgiveness by His life, but He also taught, "For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses" (Matt. 6: 14-15).

Paul showed this spirit of forgiveness to the whole world, for he humbly accepted persecution and railed not against his accusers. He wrote to one church: "To whom ye forgive any thing, I forgive also: for if I forgave anything, to whom I forgave it, for your takes forgave I it in the person of Jesus Christ" (2 Cor. 2: 10). Too, he wrote to Christians, "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. 4: 32). Have you magnified Christ in your body by this forgiving spirit?

Spirit of Liberality

This spirit of liberality characterized Jesus Christ. Paul wrote of Him: "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich" (2 Cor. 8: 9). It is beyond finite minds to comprehend how great was the liberality of our Lord! Jesus said, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (Jno. 15: 13). But He also did much teaching on liberality. He said, "Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give unto your bosom. For with the same measure ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again" (Luke 6: 38). Later Paul said, "I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20: 35).

Paul not only taught often on this subject, but he demonstrated this spirit of liberality in his body! He could truthfully say, "I seek not yours, but you:... And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you" (2 Cor. 12: 14-15). He turned his back on all the wealth his position among the Jews could have brought him, and gave himself entirely into the Cause of Christ. He magnified Christ

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by his liberality and unselfishness. But Christians today must snow to the world this same spirit of liberality. Do you magnify Christ in your Body by liberal and joyous giving to His Cause?

THE CITY OF REFUGE (Read Num. 35: 25-28, and study Chart page 134)

Though the home where we live may be spacious and grand,

It is never a city of refuge. And each city we build shows the weakness of man,

And cannot be a city of refuge.

For it can't guard the ones who are fleeing for rest, Who are troubled in mind, and with spirits oppressed: But this sweet consolation is found by the blessed

Who have come to the city of refuge.

So at night when the faults of the day come to mind

I will pray for the city of refuge. For it's when I look back on my faults that I find

How I long for the city of refuge. Though the errors I've made in the efforts I've spent Show the weakness of flesh, and were not of intent, There is only one place where I can be content —

It is there in the city of refuge.

Since my well-meaning blunder in ignorance was made,

I have hopes for a city of refuge. I could never be safe in this place if I stayed,

So I'll flee to the city of refuge. When I get to that city I'll hide from the fate That is sure to befall if I rest in this state. So I'll welcome the sight of the pearly gate

That is guarding the city of refuge.

When my wandering through trials and trouble has ceased

God will give me a city of refuge. After striving is over, I'll welcome the peace

That I'll find in that city of refuge When I get to that city I'll join in a song That wells from the voices of a great redeemed throng Of His saints gathered there at the foot of the throne

Of the King, in the city of refuge.