| Christian Life and Doctrine | December 1954 |
Much More
“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” —Philippians 4:19
IN THE 5th chapter of Paul’s epistle to the Christians in Rome, we are told of God’s wonderful provision in Christ Jesus for our salvation and deliverance. In that chapter the expression, “much more,” occurs five times. In verses 8 and 9 we read, “But God commendeth his love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”
Verse 10: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”
Verse 15: “But not as the offense, so also the free gift. For if through the offense of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.”
Verse 17: “For if by one man’s offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.”
And verse 20: “Moreover the law entered, that the offense might bound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” We all know something about God’s great salvation in and through Christ Jesus. Reference is made by Paul not only to the salvation which we now enjoy, including the salvation from the service of self and sin to the service of the living God and righteousness, but to the salvation which is yet future. This the apostle refers to in Romans 13:11, where we read, “For now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.”
We know also something of all the exceeding great and precious promises which as the apostle says in II Corinthians 1:20, are “Yea, and in him, Amen.” While we know these things, much depends upon the view we take of them. It means either comfort or discomfort in our Christian life. Our safety comes from the provisions of God—what things really are. Our comfort comes from what we know them to be. If our view is a correct one, then we, too, will have to use the language of “much more” when we speak of God’s supply for all our needs.
This matter is of vital importance to every one of us. God declares over and over again in his Word that his provision is MUCH MORE than enough to meet our needs, whatever those needs may be. If we take any other view of this provision, we are discrediting God’s promises. We are laying up for ourselves trouble of some sort. We are laying up for ourselves untold discomfort and discouragement.
Faith takes the view that God’s provision through Christ Jesus is “much more,” is superabundant. Unbelief, on the other hand, takes the view that it is much less. Yea, we can truly say that “much more” is the language of the unseen, whereas “much less” is the language of the seen.
The phrase, “much less,” appears on the surface to be far more reasonable than “much more,” because every seen thing tends to confirm it. Our weaknesses, our shortcomings, our imperfections, our foolishness—all these are painfully visible to us: whereas God’s promised grace and strength are invisible. Our need is patent before us; God’s supply is hidden, hidden in the secret of his presence and can only be realized through faith.
How was it that those men and women of Old Testament times were included in that cloud of witnesses referred to in Hebrews 12:1? The answer is found in verse 27 of the previous chapter, where we are told that they “endured, as seeing him who is invisible.” It does seem a paradox, does it not, that we are to see things that are unseen? If our vision is limited to the things that are seen, we cannot possibly endure and tread faithfully the pathway marked out for us as God’s people.
We are reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words in II Corinthians 4:17,18: “For our light affliction which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Here the apostle says that our affliction is light; it lasts for a moment, that it worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory only as we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.
We have an apt illustration of the limited viewpoint implicit in looking only at things which are seen, in the feeding of the 5,000 recorded in John 6:5-14. Philip must have had a mind somewhat akin to an accountant’s, for in response to the Master’s inquiry he made a mathematical calculation, and then said: “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.”
No doubt from the things that could be seen, Philip’s calculation, if audited, would be found correct. As for Andrew, his attitude always appeals as being most pathetic. He saw not only the multitude, but he saw also a lad with some loaves and fishes. Timidly and with an apology he said to Jesus: “There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?”
Both Philip and Andrew saw only the things that could be seen. Philip saw and enlarged upon the greatness of the difficulty. Andrew saw and emphasized the smallness of the provision to meet it. Neither Philip nor Andrew saw the unseen. They did not see the miraculous power and blessing of the Master which, when exercised upon the five loaves and two fishes, not only fed the multitude, but filled twelve baskets with the fragments remaining of the five barley loaves.
What is our viewpoint, brethren? Just how much does our viewpoint affect the outworking of our consecration? If what we see is ourselves, we hold back. If what we see is God’s provision for us, we go forward. When we look at self, the seen, we tremble; when we look to God, the unseen, we are strong. Can we, do we, say of God’s provision for all our needs that it is “much more”?
Then there is that wonderful instance in the history of the children of Israel when they did see very clearly the unseen. So clearly did they see it that the things around them were powerless to disturb. The instance is recorded in II Chronicles 32:1-23. The experience recorded in this chapter confirms what we have already said, that our safety is made possible from what things really are; but our comfort comes from our faith laying hold of them.
An enemy had come up against Judah and had threatened to overwhelm them. This enemy had been so universally successful hitherto in all his wars against the nations round about that he had no doubt he would be able to conquer the Israelites. But Hezekiah, the King of Israel, looked not at the seen, but at the unseen; he looked not at the seen enemy, but to the unseen God.
II Chronicles chapter 32 is a very choice portion of Holy Writ. Hezekiah’s action makes one think of the apostle’s words in II Corinthians 1:3,4, where we read: “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforteth of God.”
This was Hezekiah’s experience. He was comforted when he realized from whence cometh all help. He then passed that comfort on to his brethren, for we read in verse 6: “He … spake comfortably to them.” And what did Hezekiah say to his brethren? In effect he said this: that God’s provision was “much more” than their need. His words were (verses 7,8): “Be strong and courageous, be not afraid nor dismayed for the king of Assyria, nor for all the multitude that is with him: FOR THERE BE MORE WITH US THAN WITH HIM. With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is Jehovah our God to help us, and to fight our battles.”
And what was the effect upon his brethren? They were comforted with the same comfort wherewith Hezekiah had been comforted. The verse continues: “And the people rested themselves [or relied themselves] upon the words of Hezekiah king of Judah.” What a tremendous contrast, brethren! Picture, if you can, that which Hezekiah said: “With the enemy, the arm of flesh; with us, Jehovah our God.” Need we wonder the people rested or relied upon such a declaration as this?
What is our declaration, brethren? Does it compare with Hezekiah’s? Does our trumpet give forth a sound about which there can be no uncertainty? Is our declaration clear, uncompromising, or is it weak, apologetic? Does it engender in the hearts and minds of God’s true people strength and courage to press on in the good fight of faith? Are our brethren made more restful, more reliable, as a result of seeing still more clearly that with our opposers, whoever they may be and whatever the nature of their opposition, is the arm of flesh, but with us is Jehovah our God to help us and to fight our battles? The perilous times of which the Scriptures speak are here, but thanks be unto God, his grace is still able to sustain all those who put their trust in him!
Like many before and since when Sennacherib saw the faith of God’s people he was enraged. He upbraided them in being persuaded by Hezekiah to expose themselves to the risk of death by famine and thirst in the vain hope that Jehovah would deliver. Listen to what Sennacherib said (verse 11): “Doth not Hezekiah persuade you to give over yourselves to die by famine and by thirst, saying, Jehovah our God shall deliver us out of the hand of the king of Assyria?”
And so Sennacherib carries on in the same arrogant and insolent strain for another three verses until we come to that devilish taunt of “how much less” in verse 15: “Now therefore let not Hezekiah deceive you, nor persuade you on this manner, neither yet believe him: for no god of any nation or kingdom was able to deliver his people out of mine hand, and out of the hand of my fathers: HOW MUCH LESS shall your God deliver you out of mine hand?”
Search the Scriptures and see how effectively, all down the stream of time, Satan has used that poisonous arrow of doubt, discouragement and defeat! He employed it back in the garden of Eden, saying to Eve, as recorded in Genesis 3:1, “Hath God said?” He employed the same technique when tempting the Master, as recorded in Matthew 4:3-6, “IF thou be the Son of God.” And so in the experience we have before us. What a temptation to doubt; discouragement and defeat is wrapped up in those words, “HOW MUCH LESS shall your God deliver you out of mine hand.”
All the seen things were on that side. Facing the fact that all the nations round about had been defeated, it did look impossible that the nation of Israel, no stronger, no better equipped, should find deliverance. But Hezekiah kept his eyes, and the eyes of his brethren, fixed, not on the seen enemy, but on the unseen God. The result was they endured as seeing him who is invisible.
Jehovah, in whom they trusted, did not fail them. He sent them a grand deliverance. His provision was “MUCH MORE” than their need. The “HOW MUCH LESS” of the enemy proved to be for the Israelites a “MUCH MORE” of victory.
Later on in that 32nd chapter we read that Sennacherib, who threatened the Israelites with defeat and death was himself defeated and suffered death. As verse 21 indicates, Sennacherib was obliged to return to his own land “with shame of face” and was then slain by his disappointed relatives.
This experience of the children of Israel forms part of that referred to in Romans 15:4 where we read, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope.” Has there never been anything in our consecrated life to correspond with this experience? Has there never been a time when the great Adversary of God and his people has endeavored to get in his poisonous arrows of doubt, discouragement and defeat? We doubt very much if anyone who has experienced the way of consecration has not at some time or other appreciated those words in one of our hymns: “Let not the Christian’s trust depart, though life its common gifts deny; though with a sinking, fainting heart he sometimes almost longs to die.” Have there not been times when the Devil has taunted us with the “how much less” of doubt, discouragement, and defeat; when, if we had continued to look at the seen things of our overwhelming need, we should have given ourselves over to die by famine and thirst?
But brethren, in full assurance of faith, a faith that is sure and simple, we will take our Heavenly Father at his word! Looking at the things which are not seen, we shall endure, as seeing him who is invisible. All things, evil as well as good, must be and will be overruled for good to us. We shall see that God’s provision is “MUCH MORE” than equal to the worst emergency that can ever befall us. Let us settle it here and now that the language of our hearts will always be not the “how much less” of unbelief, but the “how much more” of faith!
In the 5th chapter of Romans, as we have seen, the phrase “much more,” occurs five times in connection with God’s provision for our salvation in Christ. The apostle is saying: Seeing that God gave his greatest gift, his own dear Son, while we were sinners, “how much more” will his grace be bestowed upon us now that we are no longer sinners but reconciled to him. The five “much mores” of Romans 5 should dispel every discouragement; should quench every poisonous arrow of doubt which would have us call into question or minimize God’s provision for our full and complete salvation.
These five “much mores” are beautifully summarized by the apostle himself a little farther on in this epistle to the Romans (8:31,32, Diaglott), which reads: “What shall we say, then, to these things [the things spoken about in the previous chapters]? Since God is for us, who can be against us? Surely he who spared not his own Son, but delivered him up on behalf of us all, how shall he not with him also graciously give us all things!”
In other words, seeing that God, while we were yet sinners, gave freely his greatest gift, surely this should be a sufficient guarantee, now that we have been reconciled to him, that God will freely give us everything else we need. There can be no question as to whether God will or will not, for the greater must necessarily include the less. None of us doubt he did the greater. None of us doubt that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. In the face of these “much mores” we dare not doubt that God will do the less. If we do, then instead of saying with the “much more” of faith, “Now are we the sons of God,” we shall find ourselves in the ranks of those who, with the how much less of doubt and unbelief, say, “I hope I am a child of God.” We shall find ourselves in the ranks of those who say, “Oft it causes anxious thought, am I his or am I not?”
Another text which speaks of the “much more” of God’s provision in Christ Jesus is found in Hebrews 9:13,14, where we read: “For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: HOW MUCH MORE shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
As we know, God so arranged matters in connection with the typical tabernacle and with his typical people that the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer sprinkling the unclean did sanctify to the purifying of the flesh. “HOW MUCH MORE” then, says the writer to the Hebrew Christians, in God’s arrangement with the true tabernacle and with his true people, “shall the blood of Christ purge your conscience [notice, not merely purify the flesh] from dead works?”
And why? To serve the living God! This was not possible with the arrangement made in connection with the typical tabernacle, for: “Not all the blood of beasts on Jewish altars slain, could give the guilty conscience peace, or wash away the stain. But Christ, the Heavenly Lamb, takes all our sins away; a sacrifice of nobler name and richer blood than they.” As the Apostle Peter wrote (I Pet. 1:18,19): “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things as silver and gold, … but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” Such is the “much more” of God’s provision for our salvation in Christ.
Hebrews 9:13,14 is one of those passages—and it is in this sense that we use it now—which speaks of our individual relationship to God’s provision for our salvation in Christ. “HOW MUCH MORE shall the blood of Christ purge YOUR conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” This we suggest is an individual matter.
The Scriptures also emphasize what we might call the collective viewpoint of the relationship of the church to her Lord. We have the picture of the Lord as the true vine, and the church the branches thereof; the one true temple, Jesus Christ being the chief cornerstone thereof, and the church the living stones therein; the human body, with Jesus Christ the Head, and the church the members. Even with the sacrificial work of Jesus, the same collective viewpoint is emphasized; for we read in Acts 20:28, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over which the Holy Spirit bath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” Again in Ephesians 5:25 we read: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
But he who wrote the last two scriptures quoted, also wrote Galatians 2:20. Here the apostle speaks of his personal and individual relationship to the sacrificial work of Christ. He says: “And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” While keeping in mind the relationship of the church as a whole to her Lord, let us see to it that we do not allow this truth, or any other truth—and certainly no error—to detract one bit from our individual relationship to t h e “much more” of God’s provision for our salvation in Christ Jesus, concerning whom we should be able to say at all times as did the beloved Brother Paul: “Who loved me, and gave himself for me.” And what is the purpose of this God given provision? It is that we may acceptably serve the living God.
When speaking of God’s providential care for his own, Jesus used the expression, “much more.” In Luke 12:27,28, we read these words: “Consider the lilies, how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field, and tomorrow is cast into the oven; HOW MUCH MORE will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?”
Consider the lilies, said Jesus, how they grow! How do they grow? Is it because of the ceaseless attention that man gives them? If so, then surely Jesus would have chosen not the lily of the field, but a hothouse plant, which does need the continual attention of the nurseryman for its growth. How do lilies grow? Is it by getting excited, agitated, overanxious? No—for Jesus said they toil not; they spin not. They grow by taking advantage of everything provided for them by a beneficent Creator. And said Jesus, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these!
The glory of Solomon was put on, was outward show, was merely a veneer. Not so the lily of the field. Its glory is inherent—a part of its very nature. There is a perfection in the texture of a flower, created and cared for by an infinite and unseen hand, that is truly wonderful. If, then, God so clothe the grass, HOW MUCH MORE will he clothe you! Let us, as lilies of his planting, take every advantage of the “how much more” of his provision for our every need and see to it that we blossom for his glory.
In Luke 12:24 Jesus says: “Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them. HOW MUCH MORE are ye better than the fowls?” Plant and animal life are the recipients of a Creator’s providence. We can say as we meditate upon the “much more” of God’s provision for our needs, “Thy providence is kind and large, both man and beast thy bounty share; the whole creation is thy charge, but saints are thy peculiar care.” Earlier in this 12th chapter of Luke, verses 6 and 7, Jesus is recorded as saying: “Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
“Said the robin to the sparrow, ‘I should really like to know
Why these anxious human beings rush about and worry so.’Said the sparrow to the robin, ‘Friend, I think that it must be
That they have no Heavenly Father such as cares for you and me.’‘Then I think we ought to tell them,’ said the robin to his friend,
‘That we have a Heavenly Father whose love can never end.Then they would not need to worry when in trouble or in woe.
God must think they cannot trust him when they fret and worry so’”
Using still another illustration to emphasize this glorious truth of the “much more” of God’s provision for his own, Jesus said, as recorded in Luke 11:11-13: “If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?” No parent worthy of the name would think of giving something that was bad to a child who asked for a good gift. On the contrary, what parent worthy of the name does not take a delight in giving good gifts to his children?
The tragedy often is that the parent, because of circumstances over which he has no control, cannot give good gifts to his children. And so Jesus says in verse 13: “If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how MUCH MORE shall your Heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?”
Notice the condition—“to them that ask him.” One of the underlying principles governing the bestowal of God’s gifts was stated by Jesus: “Ask and ye shall receive.” We all know that apart from the gift of his own dear Son, God’s greatest gift to the church is the Holy Spirit. We must see our need of it. So needful is it that we are told to be filled with it. Yea, the Scriptures teach that if we have not the Spirit of Christ (which is the Holy Spirit) we are none of his! If we ask for it, we shall indeed receive it.
While Luke makes a special point of the gift of the Holy Spirit, Matthew makes the gift general and all comprehensive. There is no doubt that both statements were made by Jesus when talking with his disciples from time to time on this matter. Matthew says, chapter 7:9-11: “Or what man is there of you whom if his son asked bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asked a fish, will he give him a serpent? If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, HOW MUCH MORE shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”
Notice, the same principle is mentioned as being in operation—it is to those who ask. What a comforting thought to know that whatsoever is good for us as new creatures in Christ Jesus will be given to us for the asking! And how does God give? Philippians 4:19 does not read like this: “But my God may supply some of your need according to a system of rationing.” What it does say is: “But my God SHALL supply ALL your need according to his riches by Christ Jesus.” What a source of supply—“God’s riches in glory by Christ Jesus”!
He who loves a cheerful giver is indeed the most cheerful of all givers. Did not Jesus say it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom? The divine way of giving was referred to by Jesus when he said, “Good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.” (Luke 6:38) Does not the Apostle Paul say in Ephesians 3:20, that God is able to do ALL that we ask or think? He tells us more than that. He says that God is able to do ABOVE ALL that we ask or think. He tells us much more than that. He says that God is able to do ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL that we ask or think. He says even more than that. The nearest approach to an answer to those words of Jesus, “How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to those that ask him?” is found in Ephesians 3:20, where Paul says that God “is able to do EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL that we ask or think.”
One of the most helpful meditations we can indulge in, is upon the “much more” of God’s provision for our needs. It matters not where we place the emphasis, HOW much more, how MUCH more, or how much MORE. Sooner or later in our meditations we shall all get lost—lost in wonder, love, and praise. The old hymn truly says, “Count your blessings, name them one by one; and it will surprise you what the Lord has done.” In like manner we can count our needs, name them one by one, and it will surprise us the HOW MUCH MORE there is of God’s provision to meet those needs!
Perhaps one of the greatest lessons we have to learn is this fact that God is sufficient for all our needs. One effect of his dealings with us is to lead us to the positive conviction that his provision is “much more” than our needs, whatever those needs may be. The psalmist wrote (62:5), “My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” If our expectation is from any other source, discomfort, discouragement, and defeat in some form or other await us. Not only in the fertile valley, but in the desert also, the “much more” of God’s provision must be and will be our experience.
The apostle says in II Corinthians 3:5, “Our sufficiency is of God.” This has been the experience of all God’s faithful ones down the stream of time.
Job said out of the depths of sorrow and trial, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him.”—Job 13:15
Said the sweet singer of Israel: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me.” (Ps. 23:4) The Apostle Paul, notwithstanding his many and grievous trials, triumphantly said, as recorded in Romans 8:38,39: “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor power s, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“God helped his saints in ancient days who trusted in his name; and we can witness to his praise, his love is still the same.”
Let our needs be as great as they may, in the “much more” of God’s provision there is a supply “exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think.” “My God SHALL supply ALL your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” Whatever that need is, God’s provision in Christ to meet it is more; “MUCH MORE.”—Eph. 3:20,21; Phil. 4:19