By:
Edited By Heyman Wreford
THE whole life of Jesus was a manifestation of grace. He laid Himself aside for others. He gave Himself to all who came to Him. “He had no time so much as to eat.” In a world of wickedness He was the perfect manifestation of God.
And this was not all. He put Himself under the whole power of God’s judgment of sin. He died for our sins, but rose again, ascended to heaven, and sent down the Holy Spirit as a witness to His glory and a minister of righteousness in Him.
Thus now, in the gospel, God is not condemning but saving the believer in Christ, not requiring but ministering righteousness. The law required and condemned.
If I am brought to look at Jesus in faith, I can say, He bore my sins; I did them, but He bore them. He gave His soul an offering for sins, He undertook the whole charge. I trace my sins up to the cross where they are all done with and gone. Where then do we see the glory of God? On Sinai? Or in the face of Him who bore all the sins condemned at Sinai? He entered into heaven because they were all judged.
We are thus able not only to bear the light of God’s glory but to rejoice in it. We ask, not to have it veiled, but that we may see every ray of it, because it is the testimony to His love and to His righteous dealing with sin. His righteousness is brought near, His salvation is come, for every one that believes.
What is the practical effect in the heart? Not to make me careless about sin, nor to give liberty to sin, because Christ has suffered for it. Contemplating Christ in glory, we become like Him. Looking at Christ I long for Him and get like Him. There is no veil on either the heart or the glory; and when we look at the glory, Christ who is there tells of accomplished righteousness and not of judgment. What perfect joy to be in God’s presence and enjoy Christ in all His fullness! J. N. D.