Not I But Christ
In my last post, I described the condition of redeemed people in this present world as God communicated through the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Corinthians. "For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully, just as I also have been fully known." (13:12)
John Newton penned, "Once I was blind, but now I see." He gave us in song the gifts God bestows upon those who love Him. However, compared to what we will know, now we see only dimly. On the other hand, God knows everything. "Even before there is a word on my tongue, Behold, LORD, You know it all ...Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high; I cannot comprehend it." (Psalm 139:4, 6) In this context, God knows everything, including you and me.
David tells us in verse 15, "My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in secret, and skillfully formed in the depths of the earth;" The depths of the earth seem strange, but what he refers to are the earth's inhabitants. We have fallen from a position of honor as we were made in God's image. Sin now abounds with all its pride, wickedness, and evil.
God's Word can take us from the heights to the depths and back to the highest mountain peak again. 1 Corinthians 5:21 is the highest and the lowest for Christ and us. "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin in our behalf so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." Christ, God's Son, became man and, as such, never sinned.
However, the words "to be sin in our behalf" is incomprehensible. Christ was made sin in the eyes of God the Father. We have no idea what that means because we barely hate sin, but God loathes it with an eternal vengeance. Nevertheless, the Father looked upon the beloved Son and saw sin. Are you weeping yet?
If you want to see as John Newton did, go to Ephesians 1 and read verses 3 through 14. First, identify every time the word "in" is used and notice to whom it is attached. Second, identify the part you have in your salvation. If you do, you are reading it wrong. Third, notice every time "He," "Him," or "His" is used and identify what parts of salvation God planned and fulfilled. If you do not conclude that salvation is entirely of grace at the end of that exercise, you are reading it wrong.
"And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32)
If you want to hear about Israel's calling and supplemental derailment click the link below.
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