Verses 18, 19. “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe” God is the source of all blessing. This is the first thought suggested in reading these verses. He is here seen as the author — the source of it all! Blessed, precious thought for the heart! Hence it is said to be His calling — His inheritance — His power. At the same time, the blessing is presented as in Christ, and with Christ, though flowing from God as its source.
When the apostle speaks of the gospel in the commencement of his Epistle to the Romans, he characterizes it as the “Gospel of God, concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord.” There we have God as the source, and Christ as the subject of the gospel. Here, it is the bright display of His grace and love in heavenly places, to those who have been gathered to Himself by the gospel. Of course, Christ risen is the bright display to faith of all blessing. But whether it he grace and love to shiners on the earth, or to saints in heaven, the source is the same. The preaching of the gospel — the effectual call — the future glory, and the power which accompanies the truth, and gives a foretaste of the glory, are all of God. Wondrous, marvelous truth, when we think of what we are! But there is no heart in the universe that has been so revealed to us as the heart of God. He gave His Son to die for us. And who ever lay so deep in that heart as the Well-Beloved? Its depths have been revealed. Oh! blessed, full, eternal, unfailing spring of all blessedness, both in time and in eternity! How the renewed soul loves to linger at the fountain! Here linger — here dwell — Ο my soul! It is thy place of joy and strength — thy highest privilege — thy home forever. Thou art born of God — born from above. A man’s native place is where he was born.
What can be sweeter or more strengthening to the heart, than to fall back upon the thoughts and counsels of God, as the foundation of all our blessing? This ground can never, never change. Before this world was made, our redemption was planned. It was no afterthought of the divine mind. And now, in the risen Christ, and the children of God raised up in Him, is the perfect answer to the eternal counsels of love. “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.” Ver. 7.
But here, note also, my soul, that the fountain is not only the place of sweetest delight to thyself, but of the richest blessing to others. When truly connected with the source, we become the channel of living water to others. It is said of Moses, when he fled from the face of Pharaoh to the land of Midian, that “he sat down by a well.” Beautiful illustration of the Christian’s privileged place. He was thus in the right position to help the daughters of Reuel to water the flock. “Moses stood up and helped them, and watered their flock. And when they came to Reuel their father, he said, How is it that ye are come so soon today? And they said, An Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock.” Exod. 2
It is perfectly clear that we must be near to the well of life ourselves, if we would become the channel of living water to others. “What a privilege to be enabled to roll away the stone from the well’s mouth, and water the Lord’s flock when it is gathered together — to be so under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as to minister the truth in due season. Blessed Lord, keep thy servants near to thyself, that they may refresh thy gathered saints with the pure, living waters of the sanctuary.
Jesus! thou art the fountain,
The deep, sweet well of love!
The streams on earth I’ve tasted,
More deep I’ll drink above:
There to an ocean fullness,
His mercy doth expand,
And glory — glory dwelleth
In Immanuel’s land.
Turn now for a little while, my soul, and meditate on the great truth of thy christian calling. “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling.” Nothing can be of greater importance to thee than the character of God’s call. To what, in the greatness of His love, has He called thee — to what has He called every Christian? This is the question Is it to the hope of salvation, with a measure of uncertainty or insecurity hanging over it? Most assuredly not. In chapter 2 of this epistle it is said, “By grace are ye saved through faith.” Salvation is here viewed as a present thing — as an accomplished reality to the soul. The hope of His calling, is what we are called to in Christ Jesus, as the children of God. Christ risen from among the dead, triumphant over all enemies, and exalted to all honor at God’s right hand in heaven, is the expression of that which we are called to enjoy by faith now, and which we shall fully enjoy with Christ in heaven forever. Were the heavens over our head to be opened, and could we see tire Man Christ Jesus there; we should then see the Christian’s place, privilege, and standing in the presence of God.
Grace begun shall end in glory;
Jesus, He the victory won;
In His own triumphant story
Is the record of our own.
The apostle, in this part of his prayer, refers, we doubt not, to what he had written in the early part of the chapter: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ. According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of His will.” (Ver. 3-5.) Here all is grace — grace flowing from perfect love, and for the divine glory. But God is seen alone as the Blesser. The spring and power of all the blessing here revealed are in His own heart. It takes its character from Himself. But Christ is seen as the foundation of it all. It is in Him that we are blessed. He died for us, adored be His name! and washed us from our sins in His own blood; and thus presents us to God and His Father, in the full efficacy of His work, and in the acceptancy of His Person. This is the foundation on which all blessing, both to the individual and to the Church — both for time and for eternity, securely rests. “The gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
The heart of the apostle is so full of this great subject, that he breaks forth at once, without any preface, in the highest tones of praise and worship. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.” All our blessings flow from the twofold relationship here introduced — God and Father. In the first message sent to the disciples by the blessed Lord, after He arose from the dead, He announces this blessed truth. “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God.” Christ Himself is the perfect man before God, and He is a Son with the Father. We are one with Him in both these relationships.
Redemption is the basis of relationship. Christ had so blotted out our sins, and glorified God in His death, that the way was perfectly clear in resurrection, to introduce His disciples into the place of sons — into the same place as Himself. Oh! wondrous truth! Oh! marvelous place of blessing! But, listen, Ο my soul, it is to the knowledge of this — the faith of this — the enjoyment of this — the practical manifestation of this, that thou art called of God. Explain it not away, I pray thee, think not that it is a mere feeling, but receive it as God’s truth, as a present reality. It rests on the solid foundation of the death and resurrection of Christ. “God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.” (Gal. 4:4-5.) Here again we see God as the great source of our blessing. The Son comes from God — the Spirit comes from God. God sent forth His Son — He sent forth the Spirit. We are not made sons by the Spirit, but because we are sons in Christ, He sends forth the Spirit to dwell in us. Hence we have not only the place of sons, but the consciousness of sonship, by the Holy Ghost.
The unscriptural notion of many is, that the blessings of divine relationship can never be really known or enjoyed while we are in this world. Why, in the First Epistle of John, the babes are addressed as knowing the forgiveness of their sins, and the Father. But what can be more true or real to the soul, than the words of the risen Lord: “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father and your Father; to my God and your God?” The apostle repeats the same truth, and connects with it the very highest character of blessing which is ours in Christ: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.”
Is thy faith, then, Ο my soul, up to tins revelation? These are the lofty heights on which thou art called to walk, in the intelligence and power of the Holy Ghost. Doubt not, fear not; God has called thee to this. It is the safest path — the path of faith. David rose in faith to the height of God’s thoughts and counsels as to Israel, when he vanquished Goliath in the valley of Elah. Men of lower faith stood fearing and trembling before the boastful giant, and no doubt thought David very presumptuous. But God was honored by the faith of David, and God honored David. And so it must ever be. True faith can rest in nothing short of the whole counsel of God. Art thou prepared then, Ο my soul, to ascend these spiritual heights, and like Israel of old, plant the sole of thy foot on thine own possessions in the heavenly places? Christ is there, my soul, be of good courage—thy standing is in Him. Thou art as safe as He is — thy security is His. The measure of His blessing is thine. We are “blessed with all spiritual blessings, not one is lacking; and they are of the highest order: they ax not temporal, as was the case with the Jews. It is in the most exalted capacity of the renewed man that we enjoy these blessings, and they are adapted to that capacity, they are spiritual. They are also in the highest sphere; it is not in Canaan or Emmanuel’s land; these blessings are granted us in the heavenly places; they are granted us in the most excellent way, one which leaves no room for comparison, it is in Christ.” This is the children’s blessing, all praise to our God and Father. It is individual, the Church’s blessing is spoken of afterward. Every child of God, without exception, is blessed according to that which is due to Christ. The measure of our blessing, is the measure of God’s value for Christ. It is enough, Ο my soul. It is the largest and highest blessing revealed. We are blessed in the best place — the best company, and with the best of blessings. Here rest a little in thy meditations — dwell on these three things — the measure is that which can never be measured.
We worship thee, Father and God!
What rich unfathomable grace,
On us, Ο Christ, in thee is bestowed!
Children of wrath — our nature’s place —
Ransomed with blood, made one with thee,
What lengths, breadths, heights, and depths appear!
Eternity, infinity,
Alone of grace the limits are!