Implications of knowing Christ (3)

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To know Christ further implies that the soul who has attained this knowledge, in any degree, is always kept depending on the fullness of grace declared to be treasured up in him. It is not on the deliverance he may have formerly experienced he leans. These, indeed, are by no means to be lost sight of; for the Scripture already quoted says, ‘Bless, the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.’ 

The soul taught this knowledge must be daily a dependent creature on the grace and love of God for the supply of its wants. It is just with him as it was with the Israelites and the manna. They needed a new supply of it every day; and in like manner the true believer requires new supplies of grace every day of his life. He requires more and more to grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ; and we are told that ‘the path of the just is as the shining light, shining more and more until the perfect day’ (Prov. 4:18). 

A knowledge of the desperate wickedness of his heart by nature, notwithstanding his attainments in the knowledge of Christ, keeps the true believer, all the days of his life, a dependent creature on the mercy and love of God through Christ. An evil heart of unbelief, and a sense of his vileness, very often draw that prayer from his breast, ‘Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me’ (Ps. 51:10).

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To know Christ, and him crucified, implies that the soul desires earnestly to be freed from every idol which would occupy Christ’s room. His desire, however little he may succeed in his wishes, is that every object which interrupts his communion with Christ may be removed. Indeed, the language of the genuine believer is, with Ephraim, ‘What have I to do any more with idols?’ (Hos. 14:8). 

When Christ reveals himself to a true believer, he can look with a calm indifference on every created object. When, through grace, he feeds on the dainties of heaven, the disposal of earthly objects will not occupy much of his thoughts. 

This indifference, however, leaves him not insensible to the comforts of providence, nor ungrateful to God as the giver. No; from the least of these comforts to the greatest, he would wish to receive them all as proceeding from the bountiful hand of God, and as the purchase of Christ’s blood. It is his cause of grief how much he falls short in returning to God the glory due unto him for all his earthly comforts.

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