Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The Protestant purpose
of God to redeem a people which he chose in Christ from before
the foundation of the world does not have its complete fulfillment
in simply delivering them from the condemnation of the law and
its resulting penalty. We rejoice that he did indeed
accomplish this very objective as he became sin for them and
they in turn were made the righteousness of God in him. Yet we read in
the scriptures that he had a more complete deliverance of them
as his goal, which he does not fail to perform. Paul sets forth
a manifesto of the complete work of Christ in the fulfillment
of his purpose in his letter to the Ephesians. Here he points
out the very state of nature in which each of the sons of
God did abide and the miracle of deliverance which he performed
in them by quickening or giving them life by the operation of
the Holy Ghost. But God, who is rich in mercy
for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were
dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, by grace
are you saved, and hath raised us up together and made us sit
together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages
to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness
toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are you saved through
faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. not of
works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created
in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained
that we should walk in them. This is not an optional scenario
which may or may not come to pass, but is just as certain
as the decree which he made in choosing a people in Christ from
before the foundation of the world, the end for which he has
redeemed and indwelt. His people must come to pass.
Paul describes to us this very situation when he speaks of being
apprehended by Christ. There was a purpose for which
he was apprehended rather than some random happenstance or response
to some general call sent out without a specific purpose in
mind. The Greek word, which is translated as apprehend, means
to eagerly seize or possess with a purpose in mind. Paul could
speak of his own literal apprehension as he was arrested on the road
to Damascus and was completely disabled from his ability to
pursue that which he zealously lived for as a Pharisee of the
Pharisees. The Lord of Glory, whom he met
in person on that day, had a greater design and purpose for him than
he could ever have imagined. Even the most ardent proponent
of man's supposed sovereign free will will have to agree that
the Lord violated Paul's free will that day. He had no choice
but to follow Christ, for he surely was made willing in the
day of the Lord's power. Few of the Lord's people ever
encounter as dramatic an event in their conversion as that which
Paul experienced. Yet the purpose behind each one
who is called to be a follower of Christ is exactly the same,
that he might be glorified and reveal his Son in them. To this
end, they are apprehended by Christ, even as Paul. One of
the evidences that a man has indeed been apprehended by Christ
is seen in Paul's admission that he himself had not yet fully
gained that for which he was apprehended. That man who believes
he has arrived at some pinnacle is a stranger to the grace which
reminds the sons of Adam of how far they are from that standard
which Christ has called them to. If a man considers that he
measures up to that standard, he has not been taught of the
glory of Christ, nor of his own innate depravity. We know nothing
as we ought to know, nor have we even striven to gain the fullness
of Christ in any fashion wherein we may glory. We have nothing
at all that we have not received. We cannot rightly discuss any
desire we might have to apprehend the calling which we have been
given apart from clearly expressing our total reliance upon Him who
is our apprehender, who is faithful to call us, arrest us, and then
to keep us from falling. He is our performer in all things,
working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure. He
is the author of all of our desire to reach forth and press to the
mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
He will do that which he has purposed, and we are the recipients
of his mercy which daily surrounds us and binds us to him with cords
of love which cannot be broken. How else could we possibly pay
heed to the exhortations which we are given to strive to enter
at the straight gate? Wherefore, holy brethren, protectors
of the heavenly calling, consider the apostle and high priest of
our profession, Christ Jesus. Has Christ apprehended you? For
a free CD containing 15 of these radio broadcasts, send an email
to forthepoor at windstream.net.