Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 29:113 (Jan 1872)
Article: The Organic And Visible Manifestation Of Christ’s Kingdom, And The Human Agency In Its Advancement
Author: Samuel Harris

BSac 29:113 (Jan 1872) p. 114

The Organic And Visible Manifestation Of Christ’s Kingdom,
And The Human Agency In Its Advancement

Samuel Harris

Part I. — The Church The Organic Outgrowth Of The Life-Giving And
Redeeming Grace Of Christ Penetrating Human History In The Holy
Spirit

John in his first epistle, presents Christ’s life as penetrating humanity and manifesting itself therein by a growth vitalized by that life and having its character; as the vital force of a seed penetrates inorganic nature and creates a growth “after its kind.” The eternal life which was with the Father is in his Son; by him, the Word of Life, it is manifested to men. He that hath the Son hath the life, and participating in his life, is like him. The life penetrating human history, creates a growth after its kind. That life in God is light, and as it unfolds in man it is light, and in it is no darkness at all; in God it is love, and unfolding in humanity it is love, excluding all selfishness and hate; in God it is absolute purity, and among men whosoever hath this hope in him purifieth himself even as he is pure, this life entering the human heart effects a new birth; and “whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God.” The “fellowship” on which the apostle insists is more than communion in meditation and worship; it is participation in the life that was in Christ, as a plant participates in the life of the seed. The apostle proceeds to teach that it is by the Holy Spirit that Christ abides in us. The criterion by which we discern the Spirit of God is that he is the Spirit

BSac 29:113 (Jan 1872) p. 115

of Christ, confesses him as the life of the world, and creates an outgrowth of the life that is in him.

Since the life that was in Christ is thus penetrating and vitalizing humanity, it must manifest itself in effects which can be historically traced. In some form the kingdom of heaven must reveal itself in human history rising from the ruins of humanity and shaping itself in its divine beauty. Somewhere must appear the living tree into which the mustard-seed is growing. Goethe calls nature the living garment which is always weaving for Deity in the whizzing loom of time, and by which we see him. So the kingdom of heaven, forming itself in human history, is the garment which God is weaving by which we see him as the Redeemer and the life of men.

The more spiritual and profound historians of the church recognize it as the manifestation of this divine life flowing into human history. But this is true of the organized church only with important qualifications. The life must manifest itself in an organization; but the organization is neither the only nor the comple...