Chapter 15—By God’s Grace
Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in
Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:24
.
In many of His parables, Christ uses the expression, “the kingdom of
heaven,” to designate the work of divine grace upon the hearts of men.... The
kingdom of grace was instituted immediately after the fall of man, when a
plan was devised for the redemption of the guilty race. It then existed in the
purpose and by the promise of God; and through faith, men could become
its subjects.
The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government;
He desires only the service of love.... To know God is to love Him; His
character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work
only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height
and depth of the love of God could make it known....
The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated
after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of “the mystery which hath been
kept in silence through times eternal” (
Romans 16:25
, R.V.). It was an
unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation
of God’s throne.... God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw
its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency. So great
was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten
Son, “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life.”
As soon as there was sin, there was a Saviour. Christ knew that He would
have to suffer, yet He became man’s substitute. As soon as Adam sinned,
the Son of God presented Himself as surety for the human race, with just as
much power to avert the doom pronounced upon the guilty as when He died
upon the cross of Calvary.
What love! What amazing condescension! The King of glory proposes
to humble Himself to fallen humanity! He would place His feet in Adam’s
steps. He would take man’s fallen nature, and engage to cope with the strong
foe who triumphed over Adam. He would overcome Satan, and in thus doing
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