Chapter 166—The Sacrifice of Love
And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself
for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
Ephesians 5:2
.
This is the oblation of a life-gift in our behalf, that we may be all that He
desires us to be—representatives of Him, expressing the fragrance of His
character, His own pure thoughts, His divine attributes as manifested in His
sanctified human life, in order that others may behold Him in His human
form, and ... be led to desire to be like Christ—pure, undefiled, wholly
acceptable to God, without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.
How earnestly Christ prosecuted the work of our salvation! What
devotion His life revealed as He sought to give value to fallen man by
imputing to every repenting, believing sinner the merits of His spotless
righteousness! How untiringly He worked! In the Temple and in the
synagogue, in the streets of the cities, in the market place, in the workshop,
by the seaside, among the hills, He preached the gospel and healed the
sick. He gave all there was of Himself, that He might work out the plan of
redeeming grace.
Christ offered up His broken body to purchase back God’s heritage,
to give man another trial. “Wherefore he is able also to save them to
the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make
intercession for them” (
Hebrews 7:25
). By His spotless life, His obedience,
His death on the cross of Calvary, Christ interceded for the lost race. And
now, not as a mere petitioner does the Captain of our salvation intercede for
us, but as a Conqueror claiming His victory. His offering is complete, and as
our Intercessor He executes His self-appointed work, holding before God the
censer containing His own spotless merits and the prayers, confessions,
and thanksgiving of His people. Perfumed with the fragrance of His
righteousness, these ascend to God as a sweet savor. The offering is wholly
acceptable, and pardon covers all transgression.
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