{In my studies in Romans, we came to a studies speaking of the Jewish people as the stewards of the oracles of God. Sir Robert Anderson, in his work “The Silence of God”, explains this a bit as he speaks of an agent. I always thought that this was a good way to illustrate at the place that the Nation of Israel had in time past in God’s redemptive purpose. This helped in my understanding, so I am taking a moment to pass it on. In my occupation, I often need to purchase items, and often, when going to the manufacturer, they say they do not sell except through their authorized distributor, so his example about the winegrower and his agent was an example that I understood perfectly}
A Greater Word
Hebrews 2:1 – 4 — “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels was stedfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompence of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard Him; God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to His own will?”
Stewards of the Oracles of God
Romans 3:1 – 4 — “What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision? Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God. For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”
One might ask, that after all that we heard as Paul took those of his own nation to task about their failure to live up to their end of the covenant, what good is it then to be in a covenant with God?
Continue reading “Stewards of the Oracles of God”
The Son at the Father’s Right Hand
Hebrews 1:13 – 14 — “But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?”
This “rhetorical” question about the angels actually has nothing to do with them. The Father made this statement to the Son! We first read this statement in the 100th Psalm:
The Seal of the Covenant
Romans 2:25 – 29 — “For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”
When a man marries, he makes a covenant with his wife, and the sign, or the seal of the covenant is a ring on the third finger of his left hand. The ring is not the covenant, it is the sign of the covenant. Continue reading “The Seal of the Covenant”
The Son as Creator
Hebrews 1:10 – 12 — “And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of Thine hands: They shall perish; but Thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt Thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but Thou art the same, and Thy years shall not fail.
Now we will take another look at the identity of the Creator. Who is it that created the Heaven and the earth?
And the Religious
Romans 2:17 – 24 — “Behold, thou art called a Jew, and restest in the law, and makest thy boast of God, And knowest His will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law; And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness, An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law. Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege? Thou that makest thy boast of the law, through breaking the law dishonourest thou God? For the Name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”
This next passage speaks directly to the recipients of the only religion that ever came from God. That this is especially written to Jews for them to take to heart is true. They will find that their place of privilege before God turns out to very much be a disadvantage. “For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more” (Luke 12:48).
Thy Throne, O God
Hebrews 1:8 – 9 — “But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even Thy God, hath anointed Thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.”
Think of all that is said to the Son that is not said to angels. Remember how great the angels of God really are, and yet in there greatness, they are told to worship the Son. “And let all the angels of God worship Him“.
The Most Wonderful Fact — His Riches our Riches, Part 3
A Gospel Message by A. C. Gaebelein
3. The Most Wonderful Fact
BY HIS POVERTY WE ARE MADE RICH.
“For ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).
What a most wonderful theme we have here for our contemplation.
The great, the deep, the unfathomable poverty of the Son of God on the cross has procured us riches, incredible riches.
How great these riches must be, riches that have been won for poor lost sinners, for whom Christ died, but who now believe Him and His Word.
We shall find indeed that while the Riches of Christ that He had with the Father before the world are wonderful, the fact that such a One became so poor brings something greatly wonderful before our hearts, and that is the most wonderful of all: Riches that God has given us in Christ. This is the fullness of the blessed Gospel, a fullness that is so little preached and less believed today. Some emphasize in Gospel preaching the fact of the forgiveness of sins and, how the believing sinner is freely justified from all things.
Continue reading “The Most Wonderful Fact — His Riches our Riches, Part 3”
A More Wonderful Fact — His Riches our Riches, Part 2
A gospel message from A. C. Gaebelein
2. A More Wonderful Fact
HE BECAME POOR FOR OUR SAKES.
“For ye know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich” (2 Cor. 8:9).
If we have wondered at His eternal Riches, how much greater must be our amazement that such a One, whose Riches are incomprehensible, became poor. Indeed it is more wonderful that He became poor and furthermore that He became poor for our sakes.
“Your sakes.” This precious Gospel text before us enlarges and expands and opens up the gracious, unfathomable depths of God’s Love. We shall find that He, Who was so rich, became so poor in that He was stripped of all He had. And it was for us, reader. It was for my sake and for your sake. Can we ever hear enough of it? Do we ever get tired of hearing that which is, the old, but ever new, the blessed account of His Love? There are too many who seem to have gotten beyond the facts of the precious Gospel.”We want something deeper than the Gospel,” some said to this writer some short time ago. It did not take us long to find out that they had never actually fully tasted nor received even the basics of the sweetness of “the old, old story of Jesus and His Love.” The one who knows the gospel and lives in fellowship with the Father and the Son can never hear it enough. The more we hear, the more we realize its preciousness and its marvelous depths. It is not possible to get beyond the Gospel of the grace of God. “Amazing Grace,” it is in every way!
But let us look at this more wonderful fact, that, “He became poor for your sakes.”
Continue reading “A More Wonderful Fact — His Riches our Riches, Part 2”
