EPC Australia

What is this state? And what is this standing? The state, is a state of grace, and means the privileged condition in which all Christians are found, though they were by nature children of wrath, even as others. It is expressed, by our Apostle, in the preceding words: Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace.

It may well be called "this grace," for it only flows from, and only proclaims, the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness towards us, by Christ Jesus. How dreadful is it to have God for our adversary! He, in whom we live; he, who is about our path, and our lying down; he, on whose side all creatures rise up, and arrange themselves; he, whose look is death, and whose frown is hell! What were our alarms when we began to discover our danger, and conscience induced us to cry, "What must I do to be saved?" And when we saw the storm passing off; when we were told that the dreadful breach was made up; when be believed that God was pacified towards us for all that we had done, what were our feelings then, but life from the dead? And in that day we said, "0 Lord, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me."

But we may be reconciled to another, so as to be forgiven, and not be admitted into the intimacies of friendship. After Absalom was, through the intercession of Joab, allowed to return to Jerusalem, two years elapsed before he was allowed to see the king's face. But God favours us with the most familiar intercourse and communion. We come boldly to the Throne of Grace. In every thing, by prayer and supplication, we make known our requests. We dwell in his house; we eat at his table; we walk with God; we lean on his arm, and on his bosom. He honours us with his confidence, and trusts us with his secrets. He allows us to put him in remembrance, and plead with him, and say — can his condescension go further? — "Concerning the work of my hands, command ye me."

This grace means, also, approbation and complacency. He takes pleasure in them that fear him. He rests in his love. He joys over them with singing. They are his children, his bride, his jewels, his glory. And as their persons, so their services are accepted in the Beloved. Poor as they are, he smiles upon them. Their prayer is his delight; and their alms are the odour of a sweet smell. He views their motive, and passes by their mistakes. He regards their wishes and design, and says, in their failures, "It is well that it was in thy heart."

Hence follows sympathy and compassion. What is done to them, he resents as a personal injury; for he that toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye. In all their affliction, he is afflicted. Though he corrects them, it is for their profit. He takes the rod with reluctance, and he lays it aside with pleasure. He cannot withstand their yielding and their tears. "Is Ephraim my dear son? is he a pleasant child? For since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still —"

"... So fathers their young sons chastise,
With gentle hand, and melting eyes;
The children weep beneath the smart,
And move the pity of their heart."

In this grace they stand. Standing, here, intends firmness, stability, permanence. It is sometimes opposed to condemnation. If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquity, O Lord, who shall stand? To which we may answer, No one that appeals to his own obedience, but every one that is found in Christ. There is no condemnation to them that are in him. For "who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again; who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us." Hence, without presumption, they may exclaim,

"Bold shall I stand in that great day;
For who aught to my charge shall lay?
While through his blood, absolved I am
From sin's tremendous curse and shame!"

Sometimes it is also opposed to defeat. Take to you the whole armour of God, that ye may stand in the evil day; and having done all, may stand. And of this they may be assured; for whatever disproportion there is between them and their enemies, the worm Jacob shall thresh the mountains. Some warriors have barely overcome; such another victory as they gained would have almost ruined them; but a Christian, having vanquished all his adversaries, stands with his feet on their necks, and is ready to engage as many more. Yea, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

The more privileged any condition is, the more anxieties does it awaken. It is easy, therefore, to imagine what a Christian must feel, if he apprehended any uncertainty, as to the state he is in. But that state is as safe as it is blessed. "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

"Arise, my soul, my joyful powers,
And triumph in my God:
Awake, my voice, and loud proclaim
His glorious grace abroad.

He raised me from the deeps of sin,
The gales of gaping hell;
And fix'd my standing more secure
Than 'twas before I fell."

Morning Exercises For Everyday In The Year
By Rev. William Jay