No. 1.
IT is most blessed to consider that we are not only, by grace, delivered from the wrath to come, but called unto the fellowship of the Son of God. To have forgiveness of sins is amazing grace, but to be empowered, by the quickening, regeneration, and indwelling of the Holy Ghost, to walk with God now, is an unutterably gracious privilege.
In our unregenerate state, our thoughts, and ways are unlike God’s thoughts and ways. (Isa. 55:88For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8).) “The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” “The things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.” When, however, by the grace of God, we are born again, sealed, anointed, and enlightened by the Holy Ghost, and our consciences purged by the blood of Christ, according to the eternal purpose and choice of God the Father, we are made “partakers of the Divine nature,” and have an understanding given us, whereby we are able to think and act, in measure, according to the wisdom and grace of the only wise God.
Blessed be God, “the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” God is light. God is love. God was manifested in the flesh. The only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father hath declared Him. The One glorious, self-existent, incomprehensible Jehovah―the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy―is now known as three in Persons, yet but One in Godhead. “There are Three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are One. (1 John 5:77For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. (1 John 5:7).) God hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. By the ministry of the Holy Ghost, we see the Father in Christ, and know that Christ is the image of the invisible God; and, in the Lord’s sufferings and death, when it pleased Jehovah to bruise Him, when the sword of the Lord of Hosts smote the Man that was His fellow, when His soul was made an offering for sin, we learn the wonderful secrets of the heart of Him who is “a just God and a Saviour.” The blood of Immanuel’s cross speaks peace; the Holy Ghost sheds abroad the wondrous love of God in our hearts, by testifying to our souls, that the Son glorified the Father, in dying for our sins.
Oh! such love, my soul still ponder,—
Love so great, so rich, so free;
Say, whilst lost in holy wonder,
Why, O Lord, such love to me?
Hallelujah!
Grace shall reign eternally!
Dwelling thus in the knowledge of the living and true God―Father, Son, and Holy Ghost―our souls are happy, for we find everything to inspire us with confidence. We dwell in love, because we dwell in God; for God is love.