Theme: THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
DAY 30, Read Titus 3:4-8
PAUL: A GREAT EXPONENT OF GRACE
Key Text: “That having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:7).
Paul, like Peter and John, was a great beneficiary and exponent of the doctrine of grace. St Augustine, one of the Apostolic Fathers calls Paul, “the Herald of grace.” The word herald means, “ an official crier or messenger.” A herald also means, “One who actively conveys news or proclaims.” Below, we find a comment by Rev. W. Jay on Paul, the exponent of grace.
“Observe what he says of his OFFICE. “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach.” Augustine calls Paul “the herald of grace.” He well deserves the name; he is always magnifying it; never loses sight of it for a moment. He connects it, you see, with everything. He connects it with his conversion, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was exceeding abundant to me-ward.” He connects it with his conversation in the world, “Not by fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God we have our conversation in the world.” He connects it with his unparalleled exertions: “I laboured more abundantly than they all; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” He connects it with his functions: “Unto me, who am less than the least; of all saints, is this grace given.” What grace is there here? What do princes when they want ministers, or masters when they want servants? They will be sure to take those who seem the most meritorious, and who already possess the qualities and excellences they require in them. Why? Because if they have them not, they cannot impart them. God can; and therefore, in calling His servants He also qualifies them; and therefore frequently takes the most unsuitable and the most inadequate, in order to show that the excellency of the power is of God, and not of man.”
Rev. W. Jay further wrote this on Paul’s mission to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.
“ St. Paul was called to “preach the unsearchable riches of Christ.” The expression, “riches of Christ,” comprehensively denotes the personal excellence and mediatorial sufficiency of Jesus. There are seven constituent elements more especially in “the unsearchable riches of Christ,” which, in the name and by the authority of God, the apostle preached.
(1) He preached the Divine supremacy of Christ.
(2) St. Paul preached the prophetic excellence of Christ — disclosing the depths of celestial wisdom which, in person, and by his commissioned messengers, that infallible instructor taught, and making manifest that, in teaching thus, the Redeemer spake the words of God.
(3) He preached the perfection of the Lord’s humanity, announcing him for the vindication of the Father’s righteousness, and the satisfaction of the sinner’s soul, as the spotless Lamb of sacrifice.
(4) He preached Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
(5) The apostle preached Christ as the Saviour on the cross, he also preached Him as the Saviour on the throne.
(6) From heaven he descended, as it were, along with Him, to earth amidst the thunders of the day of doom.
(7) The Apostle Paul set forth not only the personal qualifications which Christ possesses, but also the benefits which He has purchased and procured for men.”
PRAYER: Father, thank you for the endless blessings we have through the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
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