0625. Romans, Ephesians, Thessalonians

Romans, Ephesians, Thessalonians

"Justified by faith" (Rev_5:1).

"Seated with Christ in the Heavenlies" (Eph_2:6).

"The Lord shall descend with a shout" (1Th_4:16).

When one beholds the great prominence given to the threefold vision of Christ in the Bible, it will not seem strange that there are three of Paul’s Epistles which are given particularly to the discussion of these three themes.

1. Romans is pre-eminently the Epistle of the Cross. It is there that the great basic doctrines of the atonement and of justification are set forth with unparalleled clearness.

Romans, to be sure, has a message about Christ risen and Christ coming again, but the burden of its word is concerning the work of justification by faith, apart from the deeds of the Law.

Romans clears up every muted question concerning grace and works, and the atonement, and forgiveness, and justification, and substitution, and all the great messages and words that cluster around the Cross of Christ.

2. Ephesians is particularly the Epistle of the risen and ascended Christ. It describes the things which God wrought in Christ when He raised Him from the dead. It describes the believer, quickened, and raised, and made to sit with Christ in the Heavenlies.

Ephesians tells us of all the spiritual blessing which we, as believers, have in the risen, ascended, and seated Lord. The 1st chapter gives us seven of these blessings; all ours, in Christ. The 2d chapter describes the grace by which we are saved and raised and made to sit with Christ. The 3d chapter presents a prayer that saints may know the marvelous height and depth and length and breadth of the love of Christ. The rest of the Epistle is a call to daily walk and to a victorious life, based upon the risen Christ.

3. Thessalonians is God’s message concerning the Second Coming of Christ. There we have the blessed hope, and the signs of Christ’s return set forth in clear and chosen sentences. The Coming of Christ is the comfort of saints concerning those "asleep in Christ."

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR