THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN
THE BESTOWMENT OF GRACE, IN THE GIFT OF HIS WORD, AND IN THE INSTITUTION OF
DIVINE ORDINANCES.
"He gives us grace and glory." Psalm 84:11
"I have given them your word." John 17:14
"He is the one who gave these gifts to the church: the apostles, the
prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers." Ephes. 4:11
"He gives us grace and glory." But will he give grace to sinners? Yes, to
great sinners. Paul was the chief of sinners, and yet to him was the grace
of the Lord Jesus manifested. He asserts, concerning himself, that "The
grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant, with faith and love which is in
Christ Jesus."
Oh! what surpassing, boundless love, has Christ manifested to sinners! And
on millions of Adam's lost and guilty race, who were once as vile as sin
could make them, has he in his great love bestowed his boundless grace. It
is his love that makes sinners saints, and distinguishes them from the rest
of mankind; and every sinner that will enter heaven's gates, must first feel
the constraining influence of this love. How sweet are the words, "By grace
(without merit) you are saved!" Here is an overflowing fountain of divine
consolation for guilty sinners. What wonderful love is here manifested to
us! "But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even
while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised
Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been
saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated
with him in the heavenly realms—all because we are one with Christ Jesus.
And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of
his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through
Christ Jesus."
"Most amazingly rich mercy! most astonishingly great love! When dead in
sins, blinded by pride to our wretchedness, and full of enmity against God
and goodness, even then he loved us with great love, and of rich mercy
quickened us. O look at, live and feed upon this rich mercy and great love.
Oh! to grace what mighty debtors." (Mason)
This grace is greatly celebrated by prophets, and apostles, and saints. Paul
cries, "By the grace of God, I am what I am." The Psalmist exclaims," How
excellent is your loving kindness, O God! therefore the children of men put
their trust under the shadow of your wings." A good man says, "Nothing but
free grace makes any difference between me and the vilest of sinners." One
says, "I know no sweeter way to heaven, than through free grace and hard
trials together; and where grace is, hard trials are seldom lacking."
Another says, "Two things I chiefly know: one is, that I am a great sinner;
the other is, that Jesus Christ is a great Savior. O the riches of divine
grace!"
When Christ shall bring forth the headstone of his living, glorious temple,
all the redeemed shall shout "Grace, grace, unto it." Grace is glory begun,
glory is grace perfected. Grace is the first degree of glory. The Lord will
give grace, and glory also. O what precious words! Who can weigh their
import?
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His Word my hope secures;
He will my Shield and Portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, Who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.
When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun. -Newton
As soon as sinners are brought into a state of grace, they have need of
continual spiritual instruction; and such instruction, Christ in his love
has provided them. He has given them his word. He has favored them with the
means of grace, and with the institution of divine ordinances. In the gift
of his word, Christ has manifested great love to his people. While
journeying through this bleak, arid, wilderness world, to mansions of glory,
he refreshes their souls with the bread of life, and with the living waters
of salvation. The word of God, and the ordinances of his grace, afford them
abundant provisions by the way.
What transcendent love has the blessed Jesus manifested in giving us this
unspeakably precious treasure, the holy Scriptures, in which are contained
such inexhaustible stores of rich grace. The whole Bible is an epistle of
love, unspeakable love, to perishing sinners. It unfolds the way of
salvation; it proclaims a risen, glorified Savior; it points to the Lamb of
God; it is full of Christ, full of immortal love; it leads the sinner to
glory. O then, may this precious treasure, this precious volume be yours, be
mine, to guide us through this dark, bewildering scene of sin and sorrow, to
a brighter world above. "Your word," says the psalmist, "is a lamp unto my
feet, and a light unto my path."
How highly has the word of God been prized by every Christian pilgrim, by
every traveler to Zion– it was David's comfort in his affliction; it was his
song in the house of his pilgrimage. "This is my comfort in my affliction,
for your word has quickened me." "Your statutes have been my songs in the
house of my pilgrimage." How precious was the holy law of God, to this
eminent saint, Israel's sacred bard! Hear him exclaim, "O, how I love your
law! it is my meditation all the day." "Your testimonies have I taken as a
heritage forever, for they are the rejoicing of my heart." "Therefore I love
your commandments above gold; yes, above fine gold." "How sweet are your
words unto my taste! yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth." "Consider how I
love your precepts." "My soul has kept your testimonies, and I love them
exceedingly."
Reader, may you also love the word of God, and may it ever be your greatest
delight to read its sacred pages. You cannot prize this blessed book
sufficiently. Blessed Jesus, what do we not owe you for the gift of this
precious volume!
"Let everlasting thanks be thine,
For such a bright display,
As makes a world of darkness shine
With beams of heavenly day.
My soul rejoices to pursue
The steps of him I love;
Till glory breaks upon my view,
In brighter worlds above." -Cowper
In his love, Christ "has given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises." May you ever contemplate these "precious promises;" and may your
prayer be, "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your
law." If you are a believer, you will love and value the word of God; you
will meditate much on it. It is true of a righteous man, that "his delight
is in the law of the Lord, and in his law does he meditate day and night."
On a dying bed, you will not regret having spent too much time in the study
of the Scriptures, but you may lament that you had not devoted more of your
time to the diligent perusal of the divine pages. When Salmasius, one of the
most consummate scholars of his age, came to die, he exclaimed, "O! I have
lost a world of time! Time, the most precious thing in the world! whereof
had I but one year more, I would spend it in reading David's Psalms and
Paul's Epistles." The immortal John Locke, when asked which was the surest
way for a young man to attain a knowledge of the Christian religion,
replied, "Let him study the Holy Scriptures, especially the New Testament;
therein are contained the words of eternal life; it has God for its author,
salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its
matter."
It is from the Bible that we obtain that knowledge, which will guide us to
the abodes of immortality which will lead us to the glory and honor that
will endure when sun and stars have lost their light. Then study, the word
of God. "It embodies all," says Waterbury, " that a Christian in this
pilgrimage can need– it is his only chart through this tempestuous life; in
trouble, it is his consolation; in prosperity, his monitor; in difficulty,
his guide; amid the darkness of death, and while descending into the shadowy
valley, it is the day-star that illuminates his path, makes his dying eye
bright with hope, and cheers his soul with the prospect of immortal glory."
Always remember the divine admonition of our blessed Savior, "You search the
scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and they are they
which testify of me." And "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all
wisdom." Let the language of your heart ever be–
"May this blest volume ever lie
Close to my heart, and near my eye;
Till life's last hour my soul engage,
And be my chosen heritage."
In the institution of the ordinances of grace, Christ has manifested the
tenderest love and concern for the spiritual welfare of his people while in
this world. In his love, "He is the one who gave these gifts to the church:
the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.
Their responsibility is to equip God's people to do his work and build up
the church, the body of Christ, until we come to such unity in our faith and
knowledge of God's Son that we will be mature and full grown in the Lord,
measuring up to the full stature of Christ."
A preached Gospel is the gift of Christ- a gift of love to a lost world. The
Redeemer's last command, was, "Go into all the world, and preach the gospel
to every creature." This blessed gospel, Christ in his love has sent to us.
The lines are fallen unto us in pleasant places; yes, we leave a goodly
heritage.
Blessed be God! that the glad tidings of life and salvation, through a
crucified Redeemer, have reached our ears. O, happy they, whose lot is cast
within the joyful sound of the glorious gospel! "Blessed is the people that
know the joyful sound; they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of your
countenance." "Blessed are those who dwell your house; they will be still
praising you.'' What a blessed privilege is it, that we enjoy, of entering
into the house of God, with voices of joy and praise! Let us prize this
privilege, and let us love to dwell in the house of God.
How ardently did David love the sanctuary of God! "Lord, I have loved the
habitation of your house, and the place where your honor dwells." "One thing
have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the
house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord,
and to inquire in his temple." To David, no spot on earth was so dear as
Zion's holy hill; no service so sweet as that of divine worship. How highly
should you, who live amid the meridian splendor of Christianity, prize the
means of grace which you enjoy! With the Psalmist may you extol him from the
heart, "How amiable are your tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! a day in your
courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house
of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."
In the institution of the sacramental supper, Christ has afforded a grand
exhibition of love. In his love, yes in his dying love, he instituted it.
The Lord's Supper is the sweetest of all ordinances; it is, emphatically, a
feast of love. The very banner that Christ unfurls over the head of every
believing communicant, is love; love written in such legible characters that
he who runs may read. "He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner
over me was love." With what joy does the redeemed sinner approach this
sacred table, that he may commemorate the dying love of his blessed Savior.
His language is, "I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his
fruit was sweet to my taste."
This ordinance, exhibiting as it does a crucified Savior, vividly displays
the vastness of redeeming love and the riches of divine grace. A loving
Savior has spread this table for us, and he cries, "Eat, O friends; drink,
yes, drink abundantly, O beloved." What blessings are here provided for
dying sinners? the bread of life, the waters of salvation, remission of
sins; yes, an abundant pardon, peace with God, a fitness for heaven!
Come and show your love to Christ, at this feast of love; remember, and obey
his dying injunction, "This do in remembrance of me." Can you lay any claim
to the name of a Christian, while you live in the utter neglect of this
duty? Surely not. The love of Christ should constrain you to observe it.
Surely it becomes a ransomed captive, a captive bought at such an
inestimable price, to testily his obligations to his loving Redeemer! "Come,
for all things are now ready." Come to the Lord's table, and behold the most
amazing love manifested to you, the infinite love of the dying Son of God!
O Blessed Jesus! may it be our delight, on earth to confess and own you as
our divine Redeemer before men, and to commemorate your dying love in this
sweet ordinance. Refreshed by that spiritual provision, which you have laid
up for us in the gospel of your grace, may we press onward in our pilgrimage
journey heavenward; and at last realize the joys of a blessed home in the
world of glory!
Dear believer, we shall soon exchange the table below for the table above.
Jesus our divine Redeemer, himself shall be at the head of that table, and
shall feed us, and lead us to living fountains of waters, and God shall wipe
away all tears from our eyes. Until then, let us endeavor to be profited by
all those means of grace, with which Christ in his love has favored us.
"Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To
him be glory both now and forever. Amen.''