624. EPH 3:8. THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST
Eph_3:8. The Unsearchable Riches of Christ
By Rev. Melville Horne.
"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ."’97Eph_3:8.
In pleading the cause of missions, it occurs to me, that I cannot do better than call your attention to the animated words I have read to you.
I. "The unsearchable riches of Christ."
(1.) They are riches of heavenly knowledge.
(2.) Riches of redeeming love.
(3.) Riches of pardoning mercy.
(4.) Riches of sanctifying grace.
(5.) Riches of consolation and hope.
(6.) Riches of immortality and glory.
(7.) All of them "riches of Christ;" and all of them "unsearchable."
II. Among whom are they to be preached?
1. Paul’s commission, and that of the other apostles, was to "preach the gospel to every creature," Mar_16:15; and to bring all nations to the obedience of the faith.
2. St. Paul thoroughly understood that the gospel he preached was emphatically the gospel of the Gentiles.
As such the angels announced it to the shepherds’97"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people," Luk_2:10. Agreeably to this idea, at the birth of Jesus, they proclaimed, not peace in Judea, but "peace on earth."
3. The manner in which St. Paul speaks of the calling of the Gentiles is highly worthy of observation.
He calls it a mystery’97"the mystery of Christ’97revealed unto the holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body;’97to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord," Eph_3:4, Eph_3:6, Eph_3:10, Eph_3:11.
III. I proceed to observe on the dignified idea St. Paul had of the apostolic mission.’97"Unto me is this grace given." Let us cast our eye,
1. On the labors and sufferings of the mission: "I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last as those appointed unto death: for we are made a spectacle to the world, and to angels, and to men," 1Co_4:9. Again, "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed: we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus." "In all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings," 2Co_4:8-10; 2Co_6:4, 2Co_6:5. All his crosses and losses he accounted as nothing, so that he might communicate to miserable men "the unsearchable riches of Christ."
2. But let us not dismiss this part of the subject without further inquiry into the grounds of St. Paul’s triumph.’97"Unto me is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ." And is it not a high honor to be made a "steward of the mysteries of God," a dispenser of "the unsearchable riches of Christ?" If dignity be derived from the greatness of the power we serve, what more can be wished than to be the ambassador of God, the servant of the King of righteousness and peace? If the royal David deemed it an honor to be a doorkeeper in the house of his God (Psa_84:10), well might St. Paul glory in the honorable dispensation of life and peace to mankind.
IV. The forcible admonition given to ministers and missionaries, to think humbly and soberly of themselves as they ought to think.
"Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints." What! Paul, the miraculous convert of Jesus Christ! Paul, the teacher of the Gentiles, and "not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles," 2Co_11:5. Paul, who had been caught up into the third heaven, seen the visions of the Almighty, and heard unspeakable words, 2Co_12:2, 2Co_12:4; who had "suffered the loss of all things," and accounted the loss of all as nothing’97who had labored, and suffered, and done more good than all the apostles’97who had founded more churches, than many ministers have converted souls’97is this man the least! yea "less than the least of all saints!" Wonderful humility! Blessed gospel, which is capable of producing this lovely temper in the proud heart of Saul the persecutor!
Mark, brethren, upon what point St. Paul makes this comparison of himself to turn. It is not riches, learning, power; nor does it turn upon ministerial talent, labor, or success. No; whatever distinctions, real or artificial, prevail among men, they all vanish in the presence of that grand and everlasting distinction which God makes between the man that feareth him, and the man that feareth him not, Mal_3:18. The point of honor is true holiness. It is not to preach Christ, but to love him; it is not to convert others, but to be converted ourselves to the image of his holiness, which constitutes our honor and felicity in time, and in eternity.
1. When the Lord will make a man a chosen, vessel, eminently serviceable in the church, it is the method of his grace to humble that man in the dust, and to remove from him every ground of vain-glory. This is necessary to secure all the glory to the Lord, to whom alone it is justly due. It is, also, necessary to bring the souls of his saints to an absolute dependence on the Lord’s wisdom, grace, and power, for all good to themselves and others. And, in the last place, it is of the utmost importance to our own safety and comfort, lest we should be lifted up with pride even by the graces bestowed upon us, and the important services we are enabled to perform.
2. That it is impossible a missionary should engage in his work in a better spirit than of that humility of which St. Paul is the example. The man who is brought to see himself as "the chief of sinners," and "the least of all saints," is happily freed from all confidence in the flesh. His talents, labors, sufferings, and success are with him of no account. He goes out of himself to live in Christ’97for Christ, and upon Christ. He receives, from the Redeemer, "grace to help in every time of need." Feeling that he is nothing, he also feels that "Christ is all, and in all."
Application
1. Let us, then, every day place our dear missionaries under the shadow of the Rock of Israel. The Lord requires it; and the missionaries claim it at our hands. We subscribe money; they give their lives. We preach missionary sermons to polite congregations; they compass sea and land, and feel the extremities of hunger, thirst, cold, and weariness, in preaching to stupid heathen, who, it may be, will some day reward their love with a shower of stones, or a volley of spears.
2. "The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye, therefore, the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest," Luk_10:2. And may we, who are ministers of the word, who have it in charge to dispense "the unsearchable riches of Christ," and who glory to call ourselves God’s ambassadors’97may we be made to feel the attractions of this calling! "Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever! Amen." 1Ti_1:17.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS