Monday Meditation
November 21, 2016
From the desk of A.J. Higgins
Gold from the Grammar
The Power of Prepositions
Through
Having traced something of the wonder of our position “in Christ,” the measureless plenitude of God’s ways in the word, “according to,” and the purpose of God as seen in “unto,” we are left to ask how all this can righteously be accomplished. How can a righteous, holy, and majestic God forgive sins, bring us unto Himself as Sons, destine us for an eternal inheritance, and seal us with His Holy Spirit?
The provision and power for all God has done for us in grace is seen in the word, “through” or ‘dia’ in the original language. Two usages of this preposition are found which give us God’s answer to the moral dilemma which our sins and standing in Adam erected against the desires of God for His creatures.
“In Whom we have redemption through His blood, even the forgiveness of sins” (v 7).
The first issue, then, is how can God possibly forgive sins? How can the work of redemption be accomplished? It was “though His blood.” The blood of Christ has met every claim. A testimony to His death, that blood has made it possible for God to retain His righteous character yet welcome us as sons into the family of God.
Each Lord’s day we give testimony to this great truth. We drink from a cup which the Spirit of God calls, “the cup of blessing” (1 Cor 10:16). We are testifying to the fact that every blessing we have come into, by grace, has been secured by the blood that was shed for us at Calvary. There is not one blessing we enjoy and possess as believers which did not cost the Lord Jesus His life’s blood; not one blessing we have which cannot be traced to His work on the cross. As you take the cup and drink from it, bear in mind what you are owning and testifying to, so that we can do it intelligently.
Colossians 1:14, the parallel Scripture to Ephesians, echoes the same truth: “In Whom we have redemption through His blood.” A personal possession – we; a present possession – we have; a precious possession – the forgiveness of sins. It was dearly bought; may we worship the One Who purchased it for us!
“… The adoption of sons through Jesus Christ to Himself” (v 5, Newberry).
Sins forgiven tells of what God has removed; Sonship speaks of what He has conferred. God is not only interested in taking away but in giving. His very nature as love means He always gives and gives the very best that His wealth can afford, His wisdom can discern, and His will desires.
We have been forgiven – tremendous truth! But we have been made sons and heirs; grace has triumphed. And all this has been made possible through Jesus Christ. Perhaps this goes a step beyond His blood which answered for our sins. This takes in what we are in Adam. Christ not only had to deal with what I have done, but with what I am. As a sinner in Adam, I needed a substitute who could answer to God for all that I am. It is here, more His death that is in view which has severed my link with Adam and made it possible for God to accept me through Christ and in Christ.
Grace has met every need for our sins and our standing, our security and our sanctification. As you ponder what grace has done, you feel like echoing Paul’s great doxology, “O the depths of the riches, both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!” (Romans 11:33). How can we not help but praise the “glory of His grace” (Ephesians1:6)?
Consider
1. Notice how the Word of God speaks of the sufferings of Christ, the death of Christ, the cross of Christ, and the blood of Christ in keeping with the context wherever these terms are found.
2. Do you think in the two terms noted above, “through His blood,” and “through Jesus Christ,” that in the one we have truths linked with the cup, and in the other truth linked with the bread?
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