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The Plan of Redemption a Gift, September 21
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3
.
“God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when
we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ... and hath raised
us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in
the ages to come he might show the
exceeding riches
of his grace in his kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus.”
Such are the words in which “Paul the aged,” “a prisoner of Jesus Christ,” writing
from his prison house at Rome, endeavored to set before his brethren that which
he found language inadequate to express in its fullness—“the unsearchable riches
of Christ,” the treasure of grace freely offered to the fallen sons of men. The plan
of redemption was laid by a sacrifice, a gift. Says the apostle: “Ye know the grace
of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became
poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”.... And as the crowning blessing of
redemption, “
the gift of God
is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.... Surely
there are none that, beholding the riches of grace, can forbear to exclaim with the
apostle: “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.”
As the plan of redemption begins and ends with a gift, so it is to be carried
forward. The same spirit of sacrifice which purchased salvation for us will dwell in
the hearts of all who become partakers of the heavenly gift. Says the apostle Peter:
“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another,
as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” Said Jesus to His disciples as
He sent them forth: “Freely ye have received, freely give.” In him who is fully
in sympathy with Christ there can be nothing selfish or exclusive. He who drinks
of the living water will find that it is “in him a well of water springing up into
everlasting life.” The Spirit of Christ within him is like a spring welling up in the
desert, flowing to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish eager to
drink of the water of life. It was the same spirit of love and self-sacrifice which
dwelt in Christ that impelled the apostle Paul to his manifold labors. “I am debtor,”
he says, “both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the
unwise” (
Romans 1:14
). “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this
grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of
Christ” (
Ephesians 3:8
) (
Testimonies for the Church 5:730, 731
).
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