The House Of Christ
“Christ’s house are we, if we hold fast the confidence, and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.”—Hebrews 3:6
The tabernacle, with its furniture, the ark of the covenant and the institution of sacrifices, were appointed by Jehovah, to show the nature of his house, to typify his dwelling in the human nature of Jesus, his sacrifice and special presence with the household of faith. David asks, ‘Lord, who shall dwell with thee?’ Ps. 15:1. The answer is, only those whose hearts are furnished with the graces of Jesus, and whose lives evidence it.
When a person possesses a right in a house, and delights to dwell in it, he adorns and furnishes it. This Jesus doth by the hearts of all his members. He is our Brother in the flesh. He complies with his own command, when thou lettest a servant go free, ‘thou shalt furnish him liberally.’ Dent. 15:14. Out of the fulness of Jesus, his members receive most liberally, grace for grace. Hence they have the confidence of faith, and the rejoicing of hope.
But why doth the apostle put an ‘if’ here? Is it to weaken our confidence and damp our joy, as though Jesus was not faithful to us; or that our own efforts could make salvation more secure than his blood and righteousness have done. Is it to keep us always in a state of diffidence and uncertainty? Far from it; this would counteract the grace of Jesus, weaken faith and hope in him, and strengthen the pride and vainglory of us sinners, as though Jesus was the foundation, but our own arm, our own faithfulness was to raise the superstructure, and bring forth the head-stone of salvation with shoutings, not of grace, grace to him; but glory, glory to us—Most detestable thought!
We are assured that all those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life, shall enter into his glory. Rev. 21:27. There are no ifs, no doubt of this. But who is of that happy number? This we can only know by the Spirit given onto us, whereby we cleave unto Jesus in heart and affection as our only hope, renounce both the righteousness and sinfulness of the flesh, continue to hold fast and persevere in the faith of the gospel, and walk worthy of the vocation where with we are called. Eph. 4:1. We are not of Christ’s house, if we have no real confidence, no scriptural hope in him; or if we have made shipwreck of faith, and rejected him as the only Saviour. Wherefore, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure; for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall. 2 Pet. 1:10.
Hold fast your trust, retain your hope,
In spite of Satan and of sin;
Thus honour Christ your Saviour’s word,
Till you his glorious kingdom win.
All of thy house shall persevere,
They of thy fulness shall partake:
Thy word is tried, thy promise sure.
Thou, Lord, thine own wilt ne’er forsake.
William Mason (1719-1791) was a High-Calvinist author. For many years he served as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1783 was appointed a Magistrate. He served as editor of the Gospel Magazine before and after the editorship of Augustus Toplady. He is best known for a morning and evening devotional entitled, “A Spiritual Treasury For The Children Of God.”
