The Holy Spirit's Biography of Christ # 12

(A.) The True Life and the False Life (continued)

Eternal Life Reserved in Jesus Christ (continued)

I think this is a time in the world's history when we need to understand this more than ever. How can we discern the difference between the true life and the false life? Well,I think John is the great messenger of this, because his writings were particularly in this connection. He wrote in a time when everything in Christianity was being falsified. There was Christ and anti-Christ. In fact, there were many antichrists, for many false spirits had gone abroad. It was a time when Christians were being deceived, and John, writing for that time, said: "The anointing which ye received of Him abideth in you, and ye need not that any one teach you" (1 John 2:27). In effect, John was saying: 'By the Holy Spirit, Who is the Spirit of the true life, you will be able to discern between the true and the false.' Even when they look so much alike, the Spirit in you will say: "There is something not true about this!"

I think that one of the things that indicates whether it is true or false is whether man made it or not. You see, those sons of Aaron made their incense, and they did not make it of the same ingredients as those with which the true incense was made. It was something which looked like the true, but it was false, and the Spirit of God knew the difference. We have to be very careful that we do not create false fire, for that is the danger of strong personalities. Do you notice how many of these things which look like life have come from strong personalities? They are uncrucified Christian men! Is that a contradiction in terms? No, the Cross has to divide between soul and spirit, and if you see the fire coming from strong, forceful, soulish men, you have reason to doubt the reality of it. When the true fire comes, it is always through crucified men.

I think the Apostle Peter could have created a lot of false fire. He was a man who was always trying to get things going! He would rush in in front of someone else, and would even tell the Lord Jesus whee to get on and where to get off! It would have been a poor lookout for Christianity if it had come through Peter! But Peter had to go to the cross, and the true fire of the Holy Spirit did not come until he was an utterly broken man.

Well, perhaps I have said enough on that matter, but it is something that should be an instruction to us in these days. We do verily need to know the difference between the true life and the false life, for satan's master-work is to imitate God.

Now can we go on with the next chapter in this spiritual biography?

(B.) The Crisis of Bethlehem

I want you to read these passages very carefully. You may think that you know them, but before we have finished I think you may find that you do not!

Luke 1:26-34, 37-38

Mark 10:42-45

Philippians 2:5-8

There has to be a Bethlehem in the spiritual history of every believer. What is the Bethlehem of the child of God? It is not in Luke's Gospel, for that is the Bethlehem of the Lord Jesus. John's Gospel is the spiritual history, and the Bethlehem of the child of God is in chapter 3: 'Most truly I say unto you, you must be born anew.' That is our Bethlehem.


~T. Austin-Sparks~

(continued with # 13 - (The Renunciation of the Lord Jesus)