Profiting From the Word Chapter 3: The Scriptures and Christ

5 - The Spiritual Profit of Christ's Becoming More Precious to Us

By Arthur W. Pink, edited by Dr. Paul M. Elliott
Are we putting crowns upon our own heads that must be rightfully cast before Christ's throne?

From the TeachingtheWord Bible Knowledgebase

Part five of a series. Read part four.

Editor's Note: Continuing in chapter three of Profiting From the Word, Arthur Pink brings us to a much-neglected truth in our day: the infinite benefits of a greater apprehension and appreciation of the preciousness of the Lord Jesus Christ. Once again, these words written many decades ago speak to the heart of a problem among Christians in our time: Christ has been devalued. He is humanized rather than glorified. Men, even in the church, worship and serve the creature - themselves - rather than the Creator "who is blessed forever. Amen." (Romans 1:25). As Matthew Henry put it, they put the crowns upon their own heads that must be rightfully cast before Christ's throne. How and why does this happen, and what is the cure? Let us take to heart Arthur Pink's observations below. - Dr. Paul Elliott

 

An individual is profited from the Scriptures as Christ becomes more precious to him. Christ is precious in the esteem of all true believers (1 Peter 2:7). They count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus their Lord (Philippians 3:8). His name to them is an ointment poured forth (Song of Solomon 1:3). As the glory of God, that appeared in the wondrous beauty of the temple and in the wisdom and splendor of Solomon, drew worshippers to him from the uttermost parts of the earth, so the unparalleled excellency of Christ which was prefigured thereby does more powerfully attract the hearts of His people.

The Devil knows this full well, therefore is he ceaselessly engaged in blinding the minds of them that believeth not, by placing between them and Christ the allurements of this world. God permits him to assail the believer also, but it is written, "resist the devil, and he will flee from you." Resist him by definite and earnest prayer, entreating the Spirit to draw out your affections to Christ.

The more we are engaged with Christ's perfections, the more we love and adore Him. It is lack of experimental [i.e., experiential] acquaintance with Him that makes our hearts so cold towards Him. But where real and daily fellowship is cultivated the Christian will be able to say with the Psalmist, "Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee" (Psalm 73:25). This it is which is the very essence and distinguishing nature of true Christianity.

Legalistic zealots may be busily engaged in tithing mint and anise and cumin, they may encompass sea and land to make one proselyte, and yet have no love for God in Christ [Matthew 28:23-24]. It is the heart that God looks at: "My son, give Me thine heart" (Proverbs 23:26) is His demand. The more precious Christ is to us, the more delight does He have in us.

Next: The Spiritual Profit of Increasing Confidence in Christ

pftw3_05

Copyright 1998-2024

TeachingtheWord Ministriesmmmmmwww.teachingtheword.org

All rights reserved. This article may be reproduced in its entirety only,
for non-commercial purposes, provided that this copyright notice is included.

We also suggest that you include a direct hyperlink to this article
for the convenience of your readers.

Related Articles • More Articles

Christians, even in the best of circumstances, are called upon to confess, as our forebears in the faith did, that we are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13).
It is at this point particularly that the genuineness of our profession may be tested and proved.
Those who thus grow in this aspect of Biblical knowledge can say, with the Apostle Paul, "For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh" (Philippians 3:3).
Copyright 1998-2024 TeachingTheWord Ministries