0478. 470. “I Thank God”

470. “I Thank God”

The Apostle Paul frequently used the expression, “I thank God,” as he viewed what God had wrought in the life and labour of others.

1. A Proclaimed Faith. “I thank my God… that your faith is proclaimed” (Rom_1:8, R.V.). Faith in God proclaims itself before men, for faith is not only the instrumental cause which brings us to God, but it is also the incisive grace which brings God into the life.

2. A Victorious Shout. “Who shall deliver me out of this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom_7:24-25, R.V.). The realm of spiritual death, which means the rule of sin’s authority, is annulled and inoperative because by the Cross of Christ we are lifted out of its dominance and placed in the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus, which means victory instead of defeat.

3. An Enriched People. “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ” (1Co_1:4). Only the grace of God could have enriched and borne with such a captious lot of people as the Corinthians were. They were anything but saintly, and yet God in His grace calls them “saints.” Paul thanked God for the grace manifested in them, yet he also thanks God he did not baptise only a few of them lest they should make him the head of a factious party—1Co_1:14.

4. An Evangelistic Church. “I thank God… for your fellowship in the Gospel” (Php_1:3, Php_1:5). The saints at Philippi knew the concern of Heaven for the men of earth, and so as men of Heaven on earth they worked in God’s working to save men from Hell.

5. An Enabled Trophy. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who enabled me,” etc. (1Ti_1:12). The chief of sinners became the choicest of saints through the enabling of the indwelling Christ. The word “enabled” is the same as “strengthened” in Php_4:13 and 2Ti_4:17.

6. A Glean Servant. “I thank God, whom I serve in a pure conscience” (2Ti_1:3, R.V.). To have a clean conscience through the cleansing Blood and the conquering Christ is no credit to us, but it does call for praise to Him; and certainly whom He cleanses He uses in His work for His glory.

7. An Appreciating Pastor. “I thank my God, always, making mention of thee in my prayers, hearing of thy love, and of the faith which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all the saints” (Phm_1:4-5). There is not anything which rejoices the heart of any true servant of Christ so much as when He sees the Lord’s people ardent in their devotion to Christ as expressed in their practical love for each other in obeying Him.

By: DR. F. E. MARSH