The Characteristics Of A Godly Man, Part 5b

From the Godly Man’s Picture (Part 5a)
By Thomas Watson

D.    It is an APPLIED knowledge

“I know that my redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). A medicine is best when it is applied. This applicative knowledge is joyful. Christ is called a “surety” (Heb. 7:22). Oh what joy, when I am drowned in debt, to know that Christ is my surety! Christ is called an “advocate” (1 John 2:1). The Greek word for advocate, (parakletos) signifies a comforter. Oh, what comfort it is when I have a bad cause, to know Christ is my advocate, who never lost any cause he pleaded!

Question: But how shall I know that I am making a right application of Christ? A hypocrite may think he applies when he does not. Balaam, though a sorcerer, still said, “my God” (Numb. 22:18).

Answer 1: He who rightly applies Christ puts these two together, Jesus and Lord. “Christ Jesus my Lord” (Phil. 3:8). Many take Christ as Jesus - to save them; but refuse him as Lord - to rule them. Do you join “Prince and Savior” (Acts 5:31)? Would you as well be ruled by Christ's laws as saved by his blood? Christ is

“…a priest upon his throne” (Zech. 6:13).

He will never be a priest to intercede - unless your heart is the throne where he sways his scepter. A true applying of Christ is when we so take him as a husband, that we give up ourselves to him as Lord.

Answer 2: He who rightly applies Christ derives virtue from him. The woman in the Gospel, having touched Christ, felt virtue coming from him and her fountain of blood was dried up (Mark 5:29). This is to apply Christ - when we feel a sin-mortifying virtue flow from him. That knowledge which is applicatory, has an antipathy against sin, and will not allow the heart to be dominated by sin.

E.     It is a TRANSFORMING knowledge

“We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image” (2 Cor. 3:18).

As a painter looking at a face draws a face like it in the picture; so looking at Christ in the mirror of the gospel, we are changed into his likeness. We may look at other objects that are beautiful - yet not be made beautiful by them. A deformed face may look at beauty, and yet not be made beautiful. A wounded man may look at a surgeon, and yet not be healed. But this is the excellence of divine knowledge, that it gives us such a sight of Christ as makes us partake of his nature! Like Moses when he had seen God's back parts, his face shone; some of the rays and beams of God's glory fell on him.

F.    It is a SELF-EMPTYING knowledge

Carnal knowledge makes the head giddy with pride (1 Cor. 8:1,2). True knowledge brings a man out of love with himself. The more he knows - the more he blushes at his own ignorance. David, a bright star in God's church, still thought himself rather a cloud than a star (Psalm 73:22).

G.    It is a GROWING knowledge

“Increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col. 1:10).

True knowledge is like the light of the morning, which increases on the horizon until it comes to the full meridian. So sweet is spiritual knowledge that the more a saint knows - the more thirsty he is for knowledge. It is called “the riches of knowledge” (1 Cor. 1:5). The more riches a man has, the more still he desires. Though Paul knew Christ - yet he wanted to know him more:

“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection” (Phil. 3:10).

H.     It is a PRACTICAL knowledge

“His sheep follow him because they know his voice.” (John 10:4).

God requires a knowledge accompanied by obedience. True knowledge not only improves a Christian's sight - but improves his pace. It is a reproach to a Christian to live in a contradiction to his knowledge, to know he should be strict and holy - yet to live loosely. Not to obey - is the same as not to know:

“…the sons of Eli knew not the Lord” (1 Sam. 2:12).

They could not but know, for they taught others the knowledge of the Lord; yet they are said not to know - because they did not obey. When knowledge and practice appear together, then they herald much happiness.