Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my song. It was widely considered by the
Jews that outward financial acumen was a direct indicator of one's
favor with God, especially when coupled with an outwardly religious
demeanor. Therefore, it was quite a shock
for them when he said, it is easier for a camel to go through
the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter into the
kingdom of God. He established the impossibility
of a man entering or being a part of the kingdom of God who had
any confidence in his riches, ability, or self-worth. Religious
men always contend that the endeavors of men are the basis upon which
blessings are bestowed upon them. Some boldly say that by a man's
works and obedience he can gain an entrance into the kingdom,
while others acknowledge that admission to the kingdom is by
grace, yet they nonetheless declare that the everyday blessings of
the enjoyment of that entrance are enhanced by one's obedience
and attendance to duty and the exercise of free will faith.
Faith is the gift of God. It is not of works, that is,
a manifestation of the free will of man, lest any man should find
grounds upon which to boast. Rather, it is the operation of
God in those whom he has loved from before the foundation of
the world, and has bestowed upon them according to his sovereign
pleasure, in order to manifest his deliverance of them from
the bondage and penalty of sin. The man who is without faith
can have no understanding of the things of God. Now faith
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not
seen. The Lord has declared His purpose
to produce praise in those who are both unable and unwilling
to give it apart from His enabling power. Thus out of the mouths
of babes and sucklings He has perfected praise. He is a jealous
God and he will share that glory with none as he confounds the
wise and prudent and reveals the deep things of God to mere
babes. This leaves men with no grounds upon which to boast in
either their entrance into the kingdom of God or their subsequent
blessings which flow to them as the children of God. Paul
clearly expressed this very truth to the Corinthians, saying, Now
if thou didst receive it, why didst thou glory, as if thou
hadst not received it? All revelation and understanding
which is found in the sons of God is that which has been bestowed
upon them by His gracious hand. He will teach the sons of God
to know the truth. He did not say that they would
become His disciples by believing, but rather they would be manifest
as His disciples indeed, by the fact that they would be taught
the truth and continue in His word. The Spirit will always
testify of the total sufficiency of Christ unto those who are
given ears to hear. The work of the Spirit is to
exalt and magnify the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
That work of Christ in the behalf of His people is one which is
completely finished. They are forever justified, sanctified,
and glorified by that which He has accomplished for them in
His life of obedience, His death on Calvary's cross, His resurrection
from the dead as the firstfruits of them that sleep, and His ascension
back to the right hand of the Father as their Great High Priest,
where He ever lives to make intercession for them. Yet there is a work
which he presently performs in them, which is the fulfillment
of his purpose, wherein they were predestined. For we are
his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which
God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. For it
is God which worketh in you, both to will and to do, of his
good pleasure. This is a current operation of
his grace, wherein he is pleased to work in each one according
to his sovereign will. I beseech you therefore, brethren,
by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living
sacrifice, wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable
service. And be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed
by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove or manifest
what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. For
I say through the grace given unto me, to every man that is
among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to
think, but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to
every man, that is, to everyone whom He has given the gift of
faith, the measure of faith. God will get glory in His people
both in giving them the kingdom through Christ's redemptive work
and in bestowing upon them those gifts which He has held in store
for them. Thou hast ascended on high. Thou hast led captivity
captive. Thou hast received gifts for
men, yea, for the rebellious also, that the Lord God might
dwell among them. Blessed be the Lord who daily
loatheth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. Do you value the riches of his
kingdom above the riches of this world? If you would like a free
transcript of this broadcast, email us at forthepoor at windstream.net.