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THE GLORY WHICH CHRIST GIVES TO HIS PEOPLE
THE dignity of human nature is a favourite subject with many: nor, if man be considered in his primeval state, can it be estimated too highly. But man is a fallen creature, and reduced to the most abject condition. The Scriptures speak of him in the most humiliating terms: nevertheless, through the grace of the Gospel, he is restored to his primitive honours: he in some respects is elevated even above the angels of heaven. No words can express his dignity more fully than those of the text. Do we inquire what that glory is which the Father gave to Christ, and Christ gives to his Church and people?
We will specify it in five particulars:
I. The glory of manifesting the Divine power—
Angels have been used as instruments of Divine power both for the preservation and destruction of mankind; but it is peculiar to Christ and his people to manifest the Divine power in conflicts with their enemies.
Christ had this glory given him—
[He had innumerable enemies, both men and devils [Note: Psa_2:2. Luk_22:53.]; but he conquered sin, Satan, death, and hell [Note: Col_2:15. Eph_4:8.]. This he did through the support and influence of his Father [Note: Isa_42:1.].]
This glory has Christ given us—
[His people are in a state of warfare [Note: Eph_6:12.]: but the very weakest of them triumph at last through Christ [Note: Rom_8:37.]. Paul acknowledges this to the praise of his Divine Master [Note: 2Co_12:9.].]
II. The glory of displaying the moral perfections of the Deity—
The material world displays the natural perfections of God; but not even the angels in heaven can set forth all his moral perfections—
[Never having been injured, they cannot exercise mercy, forbearance, love of enemies.]
This is the peculiar prerogative of Christ—
[Christ manifested the most wonderful compassion [Note: Luk_19:41; Luk_23:34; Luk_24:47.]. In so doing he displayed the Father’s perfections [Note: Joh_14:9.]. This honour he himself received of the Father [Note: Joh_14:10.].]
His people however are made to share this glory with him—
[They, as stars in their several spheres, reflect the beams of the Sun of Righteousness. How strongly was his character delineated in the life of Paul and in the death of Stephen! Every one of them endeavours to “walk as he walked.” They are enabled to do this by Christ himself [Note: Php_4:13.].]
III. The glory of being sons of God—
The angels are sometimes called sons of God; but they bear this relation to him only as creatures.
Christ has this honour in an infinitely higher sense [Note: Heb_1:5.]—
[Christ is the Son of God both in his divine and human nature. He is emphatically called by the Apostle “God’s dear Son [Note: Col_1:13.].”]
The same honour has Christ conferred on us—
[Every believer is brought into this relation to God [Note: 2Co_6:18.]. This astonishing mercy may well excite wonder and admiration [Note: 1Jn_3:1.]. It is bestowed on the believer by Christ himself [Note: Joh_1:12.],]
IV. The glory of being united to God—
The Scriptures often speak of the union that subsists between Christ and the Father—
[Our Lord himself affirmed that he and the Father were one [Note: Joh_10:30.]. St. Paul declares that all the fulness of the Godhead dwelt in Christ [Note: Col_2:9.]. What our Lord did as man, is attributed to him as God [Note: Act_20:28.].]
A similar, though not the same, union subsists between Christ and his people.
[Our Lord represents them as branches of the living vine [Note: Joh_15:1.]: he compares their union with him to his with the Father [Note: Joh_17:21.]: he declares not only that he himself is the author of this union, but that it is a part of that glory which he has given us [Note: ver. 22, 23.].]
V. The glory of reigning with God—
Both the good and evil angels are called principalities and powers, but they are never said to “reign” with God.
Our Lord however has received this honour of his Father—
[All power in heaven and in earth is committed to him [Note: Mat_28:18.]. He is exalted far above all principalities and powers [Note: Eph_1:20-21.]. It is decreed that every soul shall submit to Jesus [Note: Isa_45:23.].]
This honour also has Christ vouchsafed to his people—
[The victorious saints will exercise a kind of dominion over the ungodly at the last day [Note: Psa_49:14. Rev_2:26-27. Psa_149:7-9.]: they will sit with Christ as assessors in judgment over men and devils [Note: 1Co_6:2-3.]: they have a kingdom appointed to them even now [Note: Luk_22:29.]: they will be formally invested with it at the last day: they will receive it as a special grant from Christ himself [Note: Rev_3:21.].]
Infer—
1. What an exalted character is the true Christian!—
[Christians are despised by the unbelieving world: but the Scriptures describe their dignity in most exalted terms. How can we ever estimate aright the glory given them by their Lord! What glory can the earth afford in comparison of this! Let us not then act unworthy of this high character.]
2. How marvellous is Christ’s love to his people!—
[Every thing, which he himself has received of the Father, he gives to them: he even bought it with his blood, that he might bestow it upon them. How incomprehensible is this love! Let us entertain worthy conceptions of it: let us be constrained by it to love and serve him.]