Christian's great interest - Guthrie - VII - Part 2 continued

Required reading
The Christian's great interest by William Guthrie (available from Amazon or free on the internet, here for example) - Continue Part 2 by reading finishing Chapter 2 (Points 4 and 5).

My summary
Today we continue Guthrie's Second Part looking at 'how to attain a saving interest in Christ.'  Last week we began Chapter 2 and examined three of the five points about what exactly it takes to close with God's gospel plan.  This week we read of the last two points.

Point Four explores the properties of the duty of closing with God's gospel.  Believing must be:
(i) personal;
(ii) cordial and hearty;
(iii) rational;
(iv) resolute.

Point Five is about the native consequences of true believers.  There is:
(i) an admirable union, a strange oneness between God and man;
(ii) an admirable unparalleled communion.

What grabbed me
I found helpful Guthrie's exhortation that our communion with God leads to a mutual interest in each other's goods: 'By virtue of this communion they have a mutual interest in one another's whole goods and property, in as far as can be useful. All the Lord's word belongs to the believer, threatenings as well as promises, for their good; all his ways, all his works of all sorts, special communications, death, devils, even all things, in so far as can be useful: "All things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours, and ye are Christ's, and Christ is God's." (1 Cor 3:21-23) On the other side, all that belongs to the believer is the Lord's; heritage, children, life, wife, credit, &c. all is at his disposing; if any of these can be useful to him, the believer is to forego them, else he falsifies that communion, and declares himself, in so far, unworthy of Christ; " If any man come to me, and hate not his father—yea, and his life also, he cannot be my disciple." (Luke 14:26)'

It's a two way street.  God gives you all things, but you must also give all things to him for his use.  Sadly, we often forget the last part.

Next week's reading
Continue Part 2 by reading Chapter 3.

Now it's your turn
Please post your own notes and thoughts in the comments section below.