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THE PLACE OF REFUGE

By Dillard Thurman Charting the Old Paths  pp. 135-137

Few will argue that God did not have the power to bless mankind in any place and under any circumstance He cared to choose. Therefore, when we suggest that there are restricted areas and con-trolled circumstances wherein man can obtain these blessings, we are not suggesting that God is limited or restricted. Rather, we are merely pointing out the restrictions, which God has placed on us. As the "giver of every good and perfect gift, " He has the prerogative of specifying just where and how these blessings are to be obtained. Then it is up to man to accept these blessings upon those terms, or reject them in unbelief.

God has never been indiscriminate in blessing man. To be sure, He makes the sun to shine, and the rain to fall, on the just and the unjust. But His spiritual blessings have always been carefully safeguarded and circumscribed. And quite often, connected with spiritual lessons, His temporal blessings also have been offered on very definite terms of acceptance.

Refuge and Safety in the Ark

The salvation from the flood was offered to Noah in a carefully stated area. "And the Lord said unto Noah, Come thou into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. " "And Noah went in, and his sons, and his wife, and his son's wives with him, into the ark, because of the waters of the flood. " "And every living substance was destroyed which was upon the face of the ground... and Noah only remained alive, and they that were with him in the ark" (Gen. 7: 1, 7, 23). Undoubtedly, all will agree that salvation from the flood was offered only in the ark. Yet God could have easily placed salvation outside, and destroyed all those inside. It was God's choice. But once He had made that choice, man could either comply with His terms or be destroyed! Noah believed God, and therefore was saved by faith—but only when that faith had fully obeyed the word of God! "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became an heir of righteousness which is by faith. " (Heb. 11: 7). But this could never have been recorded of him had he not entered the ark where salvation was offered! There was only one place of refuge, and that was the one stipulated by the Lord. Noah had to be satisfied with that

Refuge and Safety in the House

A comparable situation is found in TV events of the first pass-over. You will recall that Israel faced the last of the plagues in Egypt. But God desired to spare the firstborn of the Israelites, while destroying TV firstborn of the Egyptians. To accomplish this, He set for the terms of deliverance. The children of Israel were to kill TV paschal lamb, net apply the blood to Hie door posts wherein the Passover meal was to be eaten. God's promise was, "and when I mi the blood, I will pass over you. " (Ex. 12: 1-13). But since their salvation was only in the house, God specifically stated, "And none of you shall go out at the door of his house until morning. " (Ex. 12: 22). Now, surely we all will agree that God could have spared the firstborn outside the house as well as inside. But where did God promise to save them? And after God had spoken, where could they expect to be saved? Yes, God could have spared them outside as easily as inside. But do you think He would have done it? It is not a question of what God has the power to do: but rather what God has promised to do that concerns us! And we all must admit that the Israelites would have suffered the same as the Egyptians if they had not obeyed by staying in the place of refuge.

Safety in the City of Refuge

When the children of Israel entered into the land of Canaan, God made provision for that person who unintentionally committed man-slaughter. Six cities were selected as "cities of refuge. " While within these cities, the man was safe from the avenger of blood. But he had to remain there until the death of the high priest. Otherwise, he was vulnerable to the avenger who could legally kill him. But notice where this safety was located: "And the congregation shall deliver the slayer out of the hand of the revenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to the city of refuge, whither he was fled: and he shall abide in it unto the death of the high priest, which was anointed with oil. But if the slayer shall at any time come without the border of the city of his refuge, whither he was fled; and the revenger of blood find him without the borders of the city of his refuge, and the revenger of blood kill the slayer; he shall not be guilty of blood: because he should have remained in the city of his refuge. " (Num. 35: 25-28). Of course, God could have provided a refuge for him in mountains, fields or streams. But God prescribed his safety only in the cities of refuge! Security was offered only on God's terms: and death stalked on the outside!

Refuge and Safety in the Ship

During the perilous voyage to Home, Paul had a vision from the Lord which was to save his life, and the lives of all on the vessel. But it also demanded a definite course of action on the part of others. Thus we read, "Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. " All understood this to be God's will, for Paul had told them plainly that God had reassured him during the night (see verses 21-26). In this instance, God had placed their salvation in the ship. Of course, we will know that God could have spared their lives by means of lifeboats, floating debris, or most any means. But once God had set forth the place of their safety, they couldn't find it elsewhere! Once God had spoken, safety and life could be had only in the ship!

Refuge in Christ and His Church

Now, at m parallel to those cases already studied, God has placed spiritual salvation in He could have saved men out of Christ, but He promised salvation on the inside. Paul says, "I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ with eternal glory. " (2 Tim. 2: 10). Peter just as firmly declares, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. " (Acts 4: 12). Without doubt, God has placed salvation in Christ But if in Christ, and then salvation has also been located in the Church. For the church is the body of Christ (Eph. 1: 22-23: Col. 1: 18, 24). And that which is in Christ's body is in Him! You cannot get anything in the body of Christ without it being in Christ. Everything out of the body of Christ is out of Christ. That is axiomatic and incontrovertible. We need not even argue this point. But since the church is the body of Christ, that all that is in the church is in Christ. To this end we read, Paul's words, "and was unknown unto the churches of Judea which were in Christ. " (Gal. 1: 22). These congregations were "in Christ, " and no true church is "out. "

The Spiritual Blessings in Christ

With this point firmly established in mind, we can now look to those spiritual blessings, which have been located in Christ Jesus. First, we find that every promise God made has its fulfillment in Christ Jesus. The promise to Abraham could not have been fulfilled out of Christ (2 Cor. 1: 20). But more specifically, Paul says that God "hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. " (Eph. 1: 3). And if every spiritual blessing is in Christ, then not one single spiritual blessing can be obtained out of Him. Yet, all that is in Christ is in His spiritual body, the church! True, the church doesn't save — but neither does God save any outside it!

Notice then that in Christ (and thus in His body, the church), one is created anew (Eph. 2: 10); and becomes a new creature (2 Cor. 5: 17). In this way one is made alive in Christ (and thus in the church) (1 Cor. 15: 22). And it is His body (the church) that we are reconciled unto God (Eph. 2: 11-16), and thus obtain the salvation which God offers (2 Tim. 2: 10). While in Christ, there is no condemnation if we walk after the Spirit (Rom. 8: 1). There is true cause for rejoicing in the Lord, but not outside (Phil. 4: 4); for within our work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope is remembered (1 Thess. 1: 3); but there is no promise of such remembrance outside!

It is only in Christ (in His body, the church) that one is truly complete (Col. 2: 10). But if one will enter into Christ and abide there, even the state of death becomes a blessing (Rev. 14: 13). Surely this study should make all interested in just how to get into Christ to obtain and enjoy these spiritual blessings. And that you may study this also, we have given you the hands which point the way. Study those passages carefully from your own Bible, and you will learn what you must do to enter Christ, which will also make you * member of His body, the church.