Grace, Possession, and Enjoyment.

From: The Salvation of God: Volume 9 (1886)

THESE three truths seem shown in Deuteronomy 33:23,²³And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south. (Deuteronomy 33:23) and Joshua 1:3, 15³Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. (Joshua 1:3)
¹⁵Until the Lord have given your brethren rest, as he hath given you, and they also have possessed the land which the Lord your God giveth them: then ye shall return unto the land of your possession, and enjoy it, which Moses the Lord's servant gave you on this side Jordan toward the sunrising. (Joshua 1:15).

“Satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou.” (Deuteronomy 33:23²³And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south. (Deuteronomy 33:23).) “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon.” (Joshua 1:3³Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses. (Joshua 1:3).) “And enjoy it.” (verse 15.)

It is only when a soul learns God’s favor or grace that it gets satisfied and full with the blessing. If something is done for one who is utterly unworthy, it is impossible for that person through want of worthiness to lose what he or she has received. This gives “rest.”

“When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly... God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6, 8⁶For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (Romans 5:6)
⁸But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).)

Though daily learning more of our own unworthiness, we also learn that the blessings which flow from Christ’s finished work are still ours — to be taken “possession of.” If one thing be true, “Christ died for me,” or in my stead — and it is most blessedly true — then all the rest is true of and for me too. Don’t be afraid of appropriating the blessings. All is for the one who believes, purchased by the “redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Life, even eternal life, the free gift of God, forgiveness, peace, through the precious blood of Christ, and meant to be enjoyed now. Take God’s word for it, no matter what Satan or your own heart may say, and your faith shall be “counted for righteousness.” (Rom. 4:5, 23-25, 5:1)

A. E. E.

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