BLJ: We continue to study Rev. Fay's book, "Even You're Sanctification." This is an excellent book on the second work of grace, commonly called holiness.
THE FATHER AND YOUR SANCTIFICATION
John 3:16 is the favorite Bible verse of many, for it speaks of the Father's love for the whole world and each of us, in particular. Centuries prior to this wonderful verse, however, is a scene from Genesis, which is both touching and instructive of a father's wonderful love. God spoke to Abraham, His friend, and said, "Take now thy son, thine only son, Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of" (Gen. 22:2).
J. Sidlow Baxter explains that Isaac, the son of promise, was a type of the Lord Jesus Christ and Father Abraham, a type of the heavenly Father. He then raises this question which speaks of the sufferings of the father:
"When Abraham lifted the knife to slay his unresisting son on that rough altar, who (do you think) suffered more -- Isaac in his mute helplessness or Abraham, his agonized father, who would have fain have died in Isaac's place?" [5]
The father and the son cannot be separated in the story. One is the giver and the other, the gift. So, too, in our redemption we cannot, dare not, separate the Son from the anguish and unfathomable grief and pain of the Father. God so loved that He gave, the Supreme Giver, his only begotten Son, the Supreme Gift.
And wonderful to tell, this sacrifice was in the mind of the Trinity before the world was created.
"He hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Eph. 1:4).
"Holy" refers to the inner spiritual quality; "without blame" to the outer life.
"Holy living is not an afterthought, but a part of God's original plan of salvation." [6]
The Father, in love has purposed and provided for our sanctification in the supreme price of giving us His Son. Let us be grateful.
No comments:
Post a Comment