THE GLORIOUS ETERNAL RICHES OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR!

 

1. In the Eternal Plan of God:
   1. Foreknown, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son" (Rom 8:29. See also 1Pe 1:2).
   2. Elect, "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God" (1Th 1:4. See also 1Pe 1:2; Rom 8:33; Col 3:12; Tts 1:1).
   3. Predestinated, "Being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the council of his own will" (Eph 1:11; Rom 8:29, 30; Eph 1:5).
   4. Chosen, "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Mat 22:14; 1Pe 2:4).
   5. Called, "Faithful is he that calleth you" (1Th 5:24, etc.).
2. Reconciled:
   1. Reconciled by God, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ" (2Cr 5:18, 19; Col 1:20).
   2. Reconciled to God, "Much more being reconciled to God" (Rom 5:10; 2Cr 5:20).
3. Redeemed:
   1. Redeemed by God, "In whom we have redemption through his blood" (Col 1:14; 1Pe 1:18; Rom 3:24, etc.).
   2. Out of all condemnation, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus" (Rom 8:1; Jhn 5:24; 1Cr 11:32; Jhn 3:18).
4. Related to God Through a Propitiation:
   1. "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's only, but also for the sins of the whole world" (1Jo 2:2; Rom 3:25, 26).
5. All Sins Covered By Atoning Blood:
   1. "Who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree" (1Pe 2:24; Rom 4:25, etc.).
6. Vitally Conjoined to Christ for Judgment of the "Old Man" Unto a New Walk:
   1. "Crucified with Christ," "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with him" (Rom 6:6).
   2. "Dead with Christ," "Now if we be dead with Christ" (Rom 6:8); "We being dead to sin" (1Pe 2:24).
   3. "Buried with him," "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Rom 6:4; Col 2:12).
   4. Raised with Christ to walk by a new life, principle, "That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom 6:4; Col 3:1).
7. Free from the Law:
   1. "Dead," "Wherefore, my brethren, ye, also are dead to the law by the body of Christ" (Rom 7:4).
   2. "Delivered," "Now we are delivered from the law" (Rom 7:6; Gal 3:25; Rom 6:14; 2Cr 3:11).
8. Children of God:
   1. "Born again," "Ye must be born again"(Jhn 3:7; 1:12; 1Pe 1:23).
   2. "Quickened," or made alive, "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins" (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13).
   3. "Sons of God," "Beloved, now are we the sons of God" (1Jo 3:3; 2Cr 6:18; Gal 3:26).
   4. "A new creation," "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature" (creation) (2Cr 5:17; Gal 6:15; Eph 2:10).
   5. "Regeneration," "But according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost" (Tts 3:5; Jhn 13:10; 1Cr 6:11).
9. Adopted (placed as adult sons):
   1. "Ye have received the Spirit of adoption" (Rom 8:15, etc. So, also, a future adoption, see Rom 8:23, etc.).
10. Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ:
    1. "Made the righteousness of God in him," "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe" (Rom 3:22; 1Cr 1:30; 2Cr 5:21; Phl 3:9).
    2. Sanctified positionally, "Christ Jesus, who is made unto us * * * sanctification" (1Cr 1:30; 6:11). This is in no way to be confused with experimental sanctification as mentioned in Jhn 17:17, or the final perfection of the believer (Eph 5:27; 1Jo 3:3).
    3. "Perfected for ever," "For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Hbr 10:14).
    4. "Made accepted in the Beloved" (Eph 1:6; 1Pe 2:5).
    5. "Made Meet," "Giving thanks to the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light" (Col 1:12).
11. Justified:
    1. "Therefore being justified by faith" (Rom 5:1; 3:24; 8:30; 1Cr 6:11; Tts 3:7).
12. Forgiven All Tresspass:
    1. "In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins" (Col 1:14; 2:13; 3:13; Eph 1:7; 4:32. A distinction is necessary here between the complete and abiding judicial forgiveness and the oft-repeated forgiveness within the family of God. See 1Jo 1:9).
13. Made Nigh:
    1. "But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ" (Eph 2:13. With this there is a corresponding experience; see Jam 4:8; Hbr 10:22).
14. Delivered from the Powers of Darkness:
    1. "Who hath delivered us from the powers of darkness" (Col 1:13; 2:13-15).
15. Translated into the Kingdom:
    1. "And hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col 1:13).
16. On the Rock Christ Jesus:
    1. "For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ" (1Cr 3:11; Eph 2:20; 2Cr 1:21).
17. A Gift from God to Christ:
    1. "I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me" (Jhn 17:6, 11, 12, 20; Jhn 10:29).
18. Circumcised in Christ:
    1. "In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off of the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ" (Col 2:11; Phl 3:3; Rom 2:29).
19. Partakers of the Holy and Royal Priesthood:
    1. "Holy priesthood," "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood" (1Pe 2:5).
    2. "Royal priesthood," "But ye are * * * a royal priesthood" (1Pe 2:9; Rev 1:6).
20. A Chosen Generation and a Peculiar People:
    1. "But ye are a chosen generation, * * * a peculiar people" (1Pe 2:9; Tts 2:14).
21. Having Access to God:
    1. "For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father" (Eph 2:18; Rom 5:2; Hbr 4:14-16; 10:19, 20).
22. Within the "Much More" Care of God (Rom 5:9, 10):
    1. Objects of His love, "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us" (Eph 2:4; 5:2, etc.)
    2. Objects of His grace,
       1. For salvation, "For by grace are ye saved" (Eph 2:8).
       2. For keeping, "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand" (Rom 5:2).
       3. For service, "But to every one of us is this grace given" (Eph 2:7).
       4. For instruction, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age" (Tts 2:12, 13).
    3. Objects of His power, "And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward" (Eph 1:19; Phl 2:13).
    4. Objects of His faithfulness, "For be hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Hbr 13:5; Phl 1:6).
    5. Objects of His peace, "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which ye are called in one body" (Col 3:15).
    6. Objects of His consolation, "Our Father which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation" (2Th 2:16).
    7. Objects of His intercession, "Seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them" (Hbr 7:25; Rom 8:34; Hbr 9:24).
23. His Inheritance:
    1. "That ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints" (Eph 1:18).
24. Our Inheritance:
    1. "An inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you" (1Pe 1:4; Eph 1:14; Col 3:24; Hbr 9:15).
25. A Heavenly Association (Eph 2:6):
    1. Partners with Christ in life, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear" (Col 3:4; 1Jo 5:11, 12, etc.)
    2. Partners with Christ in position, "And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly in Christ Jesus" (Eph 2:6).
    3. Partners with Christ in service, "God is faithful, by, whom ye were called into fellowship (partnership) with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1Cr 1:9); "Workers together with God" (1Cr 3:9); "Workers together with him" (2Cr 6:1); "Ambassadors" (2Cr 5:20); "Ministers of God" (2Cr 6:4); "Ministers of the New Testament" (2Cr 3:6); "Epistles" (2Cr 3:3).
    4. Partners with Christ in suffering, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him" (2Ti 2:12; Phl 1:29; 1Pe 2:20; 4:12, 13; 1Th 3:3; Rom 8:18; Col 1:24).
    5. Partners with Christ in betrothal, "That I may present you a chaste virgin to Christ" (2Cr 11:2; Eph 5:25-27).
26. Heavenly Citizens:
    1. "For our citizenship is in heaven" (Phl 3:20, R.V.; Eph 2:19; Hbr 12:22; Luk 10:20).
27. Of the Family and Household of God:
    1. "Fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Eph 2:19; 3:15; Gal 6:10).
28. Light in the Lord:
    1. "Now are ye light in the Lord" (Eph 5:8; 1Th 5:4).
29. Vitally United to the Father, Son, and Spirit:
    1. "In God" (1Th 1:1).
    2. "In Christ" (Jhn 14:20).
       1. A member in His body (1Cr 12:13).
       2. A branch in the Vine (Jhn 15:5).
       3. A stone in the building (Eph 2:19-22).
       4. A sheep in His flock (Jhn 10:27-29).
       5. A part of His bride (Eph 5:25-27).
       6. A priest of the kingdom of priests (1Pe 2:5, 9).
       7. A saint of the "new generation" (1Pe 2:9).
    3. "In the Spirit" (Rom 8:9).
30. Blessed with the "First Fruits" and the "Earnest" of the Spirit:
    1. "Born of the Spirit" (Jhn 3:6, etc.).
    2. "Baptized with the Spirit," "For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body" (1Cr 12:13; 10:17).
    3. Indwelt by the Spirit. "What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own" (1Cr 6:19; 2:12; Jhn 7:39; Rom 5:5; 8:9; 2Cr 1:21; Gal 4:6; 1Jo 3:24).
    4. "Sealed by the Spirit," "And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption" (Eph 4:30; 2Cr 1:22).
31. Glorified:
    1. "And whom he justified, them he also glorified" (Rom 8:30).
32. Complete in Him:
    1. "And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power" (Col 2:10).
33. Possessing Every Spiritual Blessing:
    1. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly in Christ" (Eph 1:3).

Such is the work which is now fully accomplished in and for the lowliest sinner who has believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. It is all superhuman and God alone could do it: nay, if man could even have any part in that work it would at that point of contact be imperfect, and therefore be blasted and ruined forever. These marvels of grace constitute that "good work" which He has but begun in those who trust Him. To this much more is yet to be added according to Phl 1:6. "He that hath begun a good work in you, will perform it, until the day of Jesus Christ." The "riches of grace" are the beginning; the final presentation in glory in the likeness of Christ will be the completion. Such a final perfection and such an eternal being is the greatest divine undertaking for the one who has been lost in sin. Nothing less than this would satisfy the infinite love of God. 

That He might thus be free to satisfy His boundless love for us He met all the issues of sin for a lost and ruined world, and so perfectly has He wrought that man need now but believe and thus receive the bounty of His grace. It is "Grace reigning through righteousness." "For God has concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? Or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen."