Bible Study Column

NOTHING
JESSIE PENN-LEWIS

"If a man thinketh himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself" (Gal. 6:3, R.V.)

(The words "to make nothing", according to Bullinger’s Lexicon, mean "to displace, abolish, get rid of, make void, render null", and in some places it has a strengthened negative in the Greek. All words marked thus ⁺, have this strengthened negative)

A.  What we are before God

        "All… before Him are as nothing… less than nothing." (Isa. 40:17)
        "Ye are worse than nothing, and your work… nought." (Isa. 41:24, m)
        "Their works are nothing." (Isa. 41:29)

B.  God has to show us we are nothing

    1. "Nothing" as regards our wisdom.
        "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing." (1 Cor. 1:19)

    2. "Nothing" as regards our knowledge.
        "If any man think that he knoweth anything (intellectually or spiritually) he knoweth
        nothing⁺ yet as he ought to know." (1 Cor. 8:2)

    3. "Nothing" as regards denominational prejudices.
        "Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the
         commandments of God." (1 Cor. 7:19)

    4. "Nothing" as regards the most devoted life apart from Love.
        "If I bestow all my goods to feed the poor… but have not Love it profiteth me nothing."
        (1. Cor 8:3, R.V.)

    5. "Nothing" as regards credit, however much we labour.
      "Though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of." (1 Cor. 9:16)

.   6. "Nothing" in anything apart from Christ.
      "Without Me ye can do nothing⁺." (John 15:5)

.   7. "Nothing" as regards even power to receive.
       "A man can take unto himself nothing, except it be given from heaven." (John 3:27, m.)

The summing up is that "the flesh profiteth nothing⁺." (John 6:63)
It can do nothing! It knows nothing! Its religion is nothing! Its sacrifice is nothing! Its labour is nothing.
"We brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out." (1 Tim. 6:7)

C.  Brought to "nothing"; God can do something for us!

    1. In Salvation.
      "When they had nothing to pay, He frankly forgave." (Luke 7:42)

    2. In Healing.
      When she "was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse", the woman sought Christ and
       was healed. (Mark 5:25-29)

    3. In Service.
      When they had "toiled all the night", and "taken nothing", the Lord interposed, and gave
       them a multitude of fish. (Luke 5:5)

   4. In Prayer.
       When we have "nothing to set before" the needy ones, we become importunate and
       receive from God. (Luke 11:6)

D.  The perfect example in the Lord Jesus

The Lord of glory emptied Himself, and took the place of absolute dependence upon His Father. The place of "nothing'' that God might be "all". Hence He said it was:

    1. "Not I" doing the works.
       "The Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He seeth the Father do." (John 5:19)

    2. "Not I" in the judgment given.
      "I can of Mine own self do nothing ⁺; as I bear, I judge." (John 5:30)

    3. "Not I" in the message given.
      "I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father hath taught Me, I speak." (John 8:28)

    4. "Not I" honouring Myself.
      "If I honour Myself, My honour is nothing; it is My Father that honoureth Me." (John 8:54)

E.  The spirit of Christ in the Apostle Paul

    "In nothing was I behind the chiefest Apostles, though I am nothing." (2 Cor. 12:11, R.V.)

F.  God's choice of instruments

    "God hath chosen… things which are not, to bring to nought the things that are." (1 Cor.
    1:27-28)

G.  God gives ALL to those who have nothing.

    "As having nothing, and yet possessing all things." (2 Cor. 6:10)
   Therefore, in Christ, the soul:

    1. Lacks nothing: "When I sent ... lacked ye anything? And they said, nothing." (Luke
        22:35)

    2. Is careful for nothing: "Be careful for nothing." (Phil. 4:6)

    3. Is ashamed of nothing: "My earnest expectation.... that in nothing I shall be ashamed."
        (Phil. 1:20)

    4. Is terrified of nothing: "In nothing terrified by your adversaries." (Phil. 1:28)

    5. Is hurt of nothing: "Nothing shall by any means hurt you." (Luke 10:19)

"ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS" (2 Cor. 9:8)

[ Top of this page | Table of Contents ]

.