Video Ministries

The Plan of Redemption a Gift

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us
with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. Eph. 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" (Rom. 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" (Eph. 3:8)
(Testimonies, vol. 5, pp. 730, 731).

>From Lift Him Up - Page 278

_______________________________________
Devotional subscription administration:
http://egwlists.whiteestate.org/mailman/listinfo/devotional