Evangelical Experiences

MEMORY SELECTION: “By grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” —Ephesians 2:8

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Acts 10:30-44

AMONG the greatest of God’s gifts is the calling and selection of the bride of Christ during the present Gospel Age—those who now partake of the merit of the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul says, that these have been “quickened,” or made alive, in Christ Jesus—because we were once dead in trespasses and sins. And he reminds us too that we once walked even as the world of mankind still walk, “according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.” (Eph. 2:2) We have been saved from that downward trend which leads to further degradation and death and, instead, have had our feet placed upon the Rock.

We are reminded too that we were “by nature the children of wrath, even as others,” (vs, 3) and that we once fulfilled the desires and lusts of the flesh as do the remainder of mankind, Yet, Paul says, “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 whose grace ye are saved).” (vss. 4,5) What a wondrous experience, even as we continue to sojourn in these corrupt earthly bodies!

And what stupendous grace is ours in that God “hath raised us up together, and made us sit [seated us together, Diaglott] in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” (vs. 6) If faithful unto death we will have the privilege of sharing in the glories of that kingdom arrangement. It will be a manifestation of God’s power such as “he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.” (Eph. 1:20,21) The same divine power that was exercised in the raising of our Lord Jesus from the dead and the granting to him of glory, honor, and immortality will also be exercised in behalf of those who are faithful during the present Gospel Age.

The blessings of the present time, however, are but a mere foretaste of that unspeakable joy which is to come to those who are faithful to their calling. It is of this class that Paul speaks when he says, “That in the ages to come he [God] might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.” (vs. 7) The very thought of such a prospect of sharing in the yet unknown plans of God concerning the further development of his creation should cause us to bow ourselves in humble submission and servitude.

With this thought in mind we consider the apostle’s message in our memory selection: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” And what a gift it is—that by our imperfect faith we have been brought to such heights of unspeakable joy in the Lord! A knowledge of such grace should encourage every child of God to press along in the narrow way with fresh determination and zeal to know and to do the will of God. This understanding should be manifest in the desire to share this truth with others. We should promote the message of the kingdom and witness to the glorious character of God to the extent of our ability, and in whatever capacity his providence may open for us.

It is not because of anything we possess that we have been given this knowledge and call of the kingdom. No, we are fallen and imperfect. And so that even the most noble of those called might not boast in their own attainments, the apostle states, (vs. 9) “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” We have all needed and received of the marvelous grace of God. For, Paul continues, “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (vs. 10) One thing in which we may rejoice is the fact that we are the workmanship of God, which has been made possible by the precious blood of our Savior Jesus Christ.

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