0521. THE LADDER OF GRACE.

THE LADDER OF GRACE.

Col_1:9-14

Paul’s letters are as much alive to-day as when they were first read in the Churches 1800 years ago. Why do they still live and thrive increasingly amid the fires of adverse criticism? Because the living breath of Christ is in them. Who could preach like Paul? Only those who could pray like him. The pulpit is weak to-day because the closet is cold. We have here one of Paul’s wonderful prayers for his brethren. This passage seems like a ladder of grace, making a way from darkness to light, from emptiness to fullness, from death to life. Paul, standing on the heights of grace, counts the steps from the top downward; but we shall understand it better by beginning at the bottom. The first step, then, of this ladder of life is-

I. Forgiveness. Forgiveness of sins is the first blessing God offers man, although many think, in their ignorance, that this is the last benefit man can get from God. There is a good deal of Protestant Popery abroad-a kind of belief that God only forgives our sins when we come to die. If this was so, surely Paul must have been very presumptuous when he said, as he does here, that "In Him we have the forgiveness of sins." Until we have received the forgiveness of our sins,. we have not advanced one step heavenward. The first round on the ladder is forgiveness. The second is-

II. Redemption. "We have redemption through His blood." To redeem means to buy back. In these evil days the redemptive work of Christ is largely ignored in certain quarters. When an article is taken out of the pawn, it is said to be redeemed, and when redeemed it is out of the hands of the broker, and into the hands of the purchaser. The old pawnbroker to whom we had sold ourselves for naught is the Devil. But Christ, having redeemed us by His blood, claims us as His own. The next step upward is-

III. Translation. "He hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son." Only redeemed ones can grow in this Kingdom. The process of translating is a mystery. There is nothing like it in nature as far as we know. No passing from one kingdom into another. The mineral never becomes vegetable, and the vegetable never becomes animal. But by the grace of God a sinner can be translated into a saint. This is evidenced by the changed lives of many round about us.

IV. Deliverance. The next step is "delivered from the powers of darkness." Sin, like a mighty vampire, has spread its darkening wings over the minds of men. With regard to spiritual things, we are, apart from God-stone blind. The power of darkness is a fearful power. How many are enveloped in its misery. God delivers us from it by opening the eyes of our understanding, and planting our feet upon the rock of His eternal truth. The next step lifts us into great hope.

V. Partakers. "Made partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Partakers, not purchasers. It is said that in England’s palace one day, the King asked his nobles by what title they held their lands. Immediately hundreds of swords flashed in the light. They replied, "By these we won them, and by these we will keep them." It is not so with us. Christ, the sword of our excellence, has conquered for us. We reap because He hath sown. We win because He hath triumphed. We inherit because He hath died. The next step is-

VI. Strengthened. This word reminds us that we are still in the place of weakness, work, and warfare; and suggests sufficiency for all our need. "Strengthened with all might." As thy days so shall thy strength be. But notice that the strength here spoken of is to be manifested in patience and longsuffering. Restlessness and a short temper are sure signs of weakness.

VII. Fruitful in every good work is the next round in this ladder. The work of Christ has brought the possibility of a truly successful life, within the reach of every man. If a man plants rotten potatoes he cannot expect good ones. The redeemed life should be fruitful in every good work. Apart from Christ our lives are as barren as branches severed from the vine. The last and highest experience is-

VIII. Filled with the knowledge of His will, etc. This implies walking in the light and rejoicing in certainties. The higher we climb in spiritual experience the more clear the air becomes. Many never seem to get out of cloudland; they seem content to abide in the midst of doubts and fears. How many of us have started on this ladder of life? Here is a man who wants to climb with the world on his back. Here is another riding on his church with the confession of faith under his arm. Here is another so filled with pride that he is puffed up like a publican or rather like a Pharisee. But the first step implies forgiveness-so the first act on our part must be confession:

Autor: James Smith