602. JOH 21:16. LOVE TO CHRIST THE ONLY TRUE MOTIVE TO MISSIONARY EXERTION

Joh_21:16. Love to Christ the Only True Motive to Missionary Exertion

By Rev. Legh Richmond, M. A.

"He saith to him again the second time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? He saith unto him, Yea, Lord: thou knowest that I love thee. He saith unto him, Feed my sheep."’97Joh_21:16.

Love to Christ, in his person and offices, is inseparably connected with love to his people, and anxiety for the salvation of sinners. He who loveth God will love his brother also, 1Jn_4:21. It will be the prayer and desire of his heart, as it was of Paul’s, that Israel may be saved. Hence, in a special manner, spring the solicitude and unwearied diligence of the pastoral office. That holy zeal for the increase of the Redeemer’s kingdom, which is so essential a characteristic of the new creature, carries the man of God, whom love has devoted to this peculiar service, through dangers without number, that he may seek and save them that are ready to perish. He knows that the sheep of Christ must be fed. They are a flock purchased with blood. But they are "scattered upon the mountains, and no man gathereth them," Nah_3:18. The love of God is shed abroad in his own heart by the Holy Ghost, which is given unto him. Therefore, the shepherd cannot slumber. Awake to the call of love and duty, he hears his Master’s voice, and flies to execute his commands.

I propose to consider,

I. The nature and design of the commission.

As Peter had thrice denied his Master, so Christ, in the most solemn yet affectionate manner, questioned him three times, whether indeed he loved him. "Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?’ The lately fallen, but now recovered sinner, loved much, because much had been forgiven him. He earnestly appealed to his Lord’s omniscience, as a testimony to the sincerity and ardor of his love. "Yea, Lord, thou knowest that I love thee.’97Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee." On each repetition of these questions and replies, Jesus deliberately committed that most important charge to his care, as a means of proving the integrity of his profession, "Feed my sheep." It appears, therefore, that the words of Christ, in this memorable passage, exhibit very clearly the principles, duty, character, and conduct of the faithful shepherd of souls; and especially of the Christian Missionary.

1. The Christian’s love to Christ is his great motive to exertion. The life which he lives in the flesh, he lives by the faith of the Son of God, who loved him, and gave him self for him, Gal_2:20.

2. The commandment of Christ, to feed his flock, declares the nature and object of his labors.

3. The example of Christ himself, in his life and death, is the model and pattern for his imitation. Thus enlightened, and warmed by the animating beams of the Sun of Righteousness, he lives to the glory of God, and finds by happy experience, that "His service is perfect freedom."

Henceforward, the life of this apostle was a continual comment upon the Redeemer’s precept. We find him faithful and diligent in his office; with an unconquerable zeal endeavoring to instruct the ignorant, bring back the wandering, strengthen the weak, confirm the strong, reclaim the vicious, and turn many to righteousness. He took all opportunities of declaring the glad tidings of salvation to perishing sinners. With holy patience and perseverance he endured all conflicts and trials, surmounted every difficulty and opposition, so that he might plant and propagate the Christian faith.

II. The application of the commandment to feed the sheep of Christ, as it respects the heathen nations at present, and our exertions in order to their conversion.

1. Who are comprehended under this term, sheep? "Ye my flock, the flock of my pasture, are men, and I am your God, saith the Lord God," Eze_34:31. The flock committed to the apostle’s care, consisted of yet unconverted Jews and unconverted heathen, who should, through preaching of the word, become disciples, and believe in the name of Christ. But this promise, said St. Peter to the Jews, "is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call," Act_2:39. And again, addressing the Gentiles afterwards, at Joppa, "God is no respecter of persons; but in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him," Act_10:34, Act_10:35.

2. Why ought these sheep to be thus fed? The positive injunctions of Christ to his apostles, as to the propagation of the truth, give the most direct and unanswerable reply to this question; and in no instance is the appeal made so powerfully to the Christian’s affections, as in that related in the text: "Lovest thou me?"’97"Feed my sheep."

But, taking the question in another point of view, I should say, when speaking of the heathen, that they ought to be taught the word of life, because we have no warrant whatsoever from the Scriptures for concluding that they will be saved without the knowledge of Christ.

3. We are next led to consider, when is this great duty of sending missionaries among the heathen to be undertaken?

To this inquiry, I would unequivocally answer, Now! "Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation," 2Co_6:2. Go now, and proclaim Christ as a light to the Gentiles, and a salvation unto the end of the earth. Of late years, a great increase of gospel light and knowledge has been diffused throughout this country in particular. Protestants have not at the present period of time, as our forefathers had, to contend with the papists, almost for very existence. The growing attention of serious Christians, to the fulfilment of prophecy, as it concerns the downfall of popery, the restoration of the Jews, the conversion of the Gentiles, and the approach of the millennium, all of which are intimately connected with missionary plans, seem to mark the present as a signal period for exertion. I would not here omit to notice that happy consummation of the wishes of the pious and humane in the abolition of the slave-trade.

4. The next subject of inquiry is, By whom ought the sheep of Christ among the heathen to be fed?

Evidently, by those who themselves know the joyful sound. The visible churches of Christ are, by their principle and constitution, missionary bodies, from whose bosom holy emissaries should continually come forth to propagate the faith of Christ among the heathen. Is it asked, By whom, individually and personally, are the sheep of Christ to be fed among the heathen? Who shall be your missionaries?’97The shepherds, whom you set apart to this honorable labor of feeding and nourishing souls for Christ, must be men who love Christ for the salvation which he hath wrought in their own souls’97men who feel in themselves the working of the Spirit of Christ, mortifying the works of the flesh and their earthly members, and drawing up their minds to high and heavenly things. They must be men, not of warmth and zeal alone, but of solidity, patience, and perseverance; men who like their Lord, can endure the contradiction of sinners, Heb_12:3.

5. Wherewith ought the sheep of Christ to be fed? With the declaration of what truths are we to labor for the conversion of the heathen?

In answer to this question, there must be one reply,’97preach Christ, as a free, full, perfect, and all-sufficient Saviour, to the greatest of sinners. The sheep of Christ, whether at home or abroad, will hear and know their own good Shepherd’s voice, and none other. Proclaim, as from the housetop, that "God commendeth his love towards us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us," Rom_5:8; and thus accomplished that wonder of men and angels, "that God might be just, and yet the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus," Rom_3:26. Preach to them, the blood of Christ’97its atoning and its cleansing power; preach to them, the perfect righteousness of Christ, as alone acceptable in the sight of God; preach to them, free justification by faith in what Christ suffered, and what Christ fulfilled in their stead; unfold to them, the mysteries of the covenant of peace, made in heaven for man; and the unsearchable riches of Christ, so freely therein provided for man’s redemption;’97set before them the purity of the Divine law’97contrast it with the heinousness of their sins, and the pollution of their nature. Hence prove to them, that "Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God," Joh_3:3.

Johannes, the Mahikander Indian, at one of the meetings which the Brethren held for pastoral conversation and inquiry into the state of the congregations, related the occasion of his conversion in the following manner, in consequence of their speaking with one another about the method of preaching to the heathen.

"Brethren, I have been a heathen, and have grown old amongst them; therefore, I know very well how it is with the heathen, and how they think. A preacher once came to us, desiring to instruct us, and began by proving to us that there was a God. On which we said to him: ‘Well, and dost thou think we are ignorant of that? Now, go back again to the place from whence thou camest.’

"Then another preacher came, and began to instruct us, saying, ‘You must not steal, nor drink too much, nor lie, nor lead wicked lives.’ We answered him: ‘Fool that thou art! Dost thou think that we do not know that? Go and learn it first thyself, and teach the people whom thou belongest to, not to do those things; for who are greater drunkards, or thieves, or liars, than thine own people? Thus we sent him away also.

"Some time after this, Christian Henry, one of the Brethren, came to me into my hut, and sat down by me. The contents of his discourse to me were nearly these: ‘I am come to thee in the name of the Lord of heaven and earth. He sends me to acquaint thee, that he would gladly save thee, and make thee happy, and deliver thee from the miserable state in which thou liest at present. To this end he became a man, gave his life a ransom for man, and shed his blood for man. All that believe in the name of this Jesus obtain the forgiveness of sin. To all them that receive him by faith, he giveth power to become the sons of God. The Holy Spirit dwelleth in their hearts’, and they are made free, through the blood of Christ, from the slavery and dominion of sin. And though thou art the chief of sinners, yet, if thou prayest to the Father in his name, and believest in him as a sacrifice for thy sins, thou shalt be heard, and saved; and he will give thee a crown of life, and thou shalt live with him in heaven forever.’

"When he had finished his discourse, he lay down upon a board in my hut, fatigued by his journey, and fell into a sound sleep. I thought within myself: ‘What manner of man is this? There he lies, and sleeps so sweetly. I might kill him, and throw him out into the forest,’97and who would regard it? But he is unconcerned. This cannot be a bad man: he fears no evil, not even from us, who are so savage; but sleeps comfortably, and places his life in our hands.’

"However, I could not forget his words; they constantly recurred to my mind. Even though I went to sleep, yet I dreamed of the blood which Christ had shed for us. I thought, ‘This is very strange, and quite different from what I have ever heard.’ So I went and interpreted Christian Henry’s words to the other Indians.

"Thus, through the grace of God, an awakening took place among us. I tell you, therefore, brethren," said he, "preach to the heathen, Christ and his blood, his sufferings and death, if you would have your words to gain entrance amongst them; if you would wish to produce a blessing among them."

Application

I beseech you to hear me, while I pro pose a few considerations to your attention.

1. Consider the state of the world, its empires, nations, kindreds, and tribes.

2. Again, consider the state of the Church; and, if you love Christ, feed his sheep.

3. Consider, also, what the Church shall be in the days to come.

4. Again, consider your own privileges; and, if you love Christ, feed his sheep.

Are you Christians? How came this? Did no man cross the seas, to teach your forefathers wisdom? Did no missionary brave the perils of a journey among your heathen ancestors, because he loved the sheep of Christ? Yea, brethren, through a blessing on missionary exertions, Christ visited Britain. He had a fold here; and he sent some faithful shepherd to gather the scattered sheep into it. Go, then, and feed the sheep of Christ, as you yourselves have been fed.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS