How very wonderful is the grace of our God to poor fallen man! Truly it is as unlimited in its power and extent, as it is impartial in its application. And this is true, not only with respect to the forgiveness of sins; but, also, as regards the believer's condition, his position and privileges, as a child of God and heir of glory. And, surely, something of the magnitude of this grace may be gathered from a scripture in Colossians; "Giving thanks unto the Father, who hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son." In it may be seen (1) our present condition of meetness, (2) our translation into a new position, and (3) our privilege of thanksgiving for what we have received.
As to their condition, the saints at Colosse were said to be made "meet to be partakers of the inheritance." They did not always possess this meetness then. On the contrary many of them had been heathen, bowing down, probably, to idols of wood and metal, the work of men's hands. It is evident, therefore, they could have had no apprehension of the true God, nor of the holiness and purity which belong to Him: and which He expects in those who approach Him as worshippers.
Thus we may gather that the moral condition of the material upon which God works is a matter of no importance to Him. He can take up a Magdalene with seven demons, or a Saul with a blameless religious life—a black sinner, as well as a white-washed one—and make them both meet for the inheritance.
Hence it follows, that all of good wrought in a man is from without, and is of God (no room for creature-boasting!) Looked at as dead, he is given a new life in Christ; as guilty, he is justified; as defiled, he is cleansed; as having offended, he is forgiven; and as lost, he is saved. In a word, he is a new creature in Christ; "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
It is not, then, what a man is in himself, but what God makes him in Christ, which constitutes his fitness as to condition.
Moreover, as to the believer's position, there is a complete change also. He was under the power of Satan, the god of this world. Who wrought in him, causing him to be subject to his leading in rebellion against God. Dark he was, and in darkness-the darkness of this world, not owning the Savior by believing on His name, and, therefore exposed to the abiding wrath of God.
But now, having believed in Jesus, the Father delivers such an one from all that in which he was held by the enemy of his soul; and transfers him to a place in the kingdom of the Son of His love. May we not say that the sphere in which the Lord's authority is owned now is the position in which the Father has graciously set every believer in Jesus?
Further, as looked at in this connection, every child of God stands before Him "accepted in the beloved." Each one is seen by God through Christ, as it were. Thus the graces of Christ are ours. For, "as he is, so are we in this world." God has made Him to us, everything we need for His presence. As we read, "Of his fullness have all we received, and grace upon grace." Thus we are complete in Him, Who is the Head of the highest created beings. And we are therefore, as in Him, above them all. O wondrous grace! O exalted position!
And it is the privilege of every Christian to appropriate to himself all the favors we have glanced at; and to give thanks to the Father for the grace He has displayed in thus dealing with him.
Many Christians, however, seem to think it presumption to do this. Hence they remain lean spiritually—inmates of Doubting Castle continually. They are afraid to look up into God's face and call Him Father, because they are in doubt as to such relationship. They profess to be so very humble. But is it Christian humility to doubt God's word? Is it not, rather, the pride and presumption of the flesh?
Let us then take what God has said respecting us with the simple faith of children and the thankfulness which become sinners saved by grace. And let us remember that scripture does not speak for the Christian of any need of becoming meet for heaven. The child of God is made that directly he believes in Jesus.