1265. The Glory of God and the Grace of God
The Glory of God and the Grace of God
"For if the ministration of condemnation be glory, much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory" (2Co_3:9).
1. The Grace of God called the administration of the Spirit. It is set over against the Law which is the administration of Moses.
It is not difficult to understand that the administration of the Spirit excells, in glory, the administration of Moses.
The Holy Spirit was given to magnify Christ, He takes of the things of Christ and shows them unto us.
The servant of Abraham, in journeying with Rebecca across the sands, talked of Isaac. The Holy Spirit talks to us of Christ, as He journeys together with us, through the world wilderness. Moses spoke of the righteousness of a just God; the Spirit speaks of the Grace of God manifested in Jesus Christ.
2. The Grace of God is called the administration of righteousness. This is placed over against the Law with its administration of condemnation.
Grace tells us how righteousness may be obtained, how the sinner's sins may be removed, and how he can stand justified before God.
The Law tells us of God's righteousness and of man's sin, but it never tells us how the sinful man may be made righteous.
The Law makes sin exceedingly sinful, the Law speaks exclusively of death as the wages of sin; it breathes nothing but terror and judgment, and a certain looking for of fiery indignation, which will consume the adversary.
The Grace of God steps in, where the Law of God is weak, because of the flesh. The Law could not save us because man could not keep the Law. Grace reaches down and encloses the repentant sinner in the arms of mercy, and in loving kindness bears him into the realm of life.
Thus, if the Law of God was the glory of God; how much more is the Grace of God unto His glory. The Law leaves us condemned, lost, undone. Grace provides redemption through the Blood of the Cross, and imputing to the believing sinner, the righteousness of God, leaves him quickened with Christ, raised with Christ, and seated with Christ at His own right hand in the Heavenlies.
3. The glory of the Grace of God far excels the glory of the Law. This statement is true for several reasons.
(1) It is true because the glory of the Law was a glory that passes away; the glory of Grace is a glory that endures. In the present age, what is the chief note upon the tongue of the redeemed? Is it the glory of the Law, that magnifies the righteousness of God, and portrays the sinfulness of sin; or, is it the glory of the Grace of God that fulfils every righteous demand of the Law, and makes possible a righteous walk?
In the ages to come, what will be the chief note upon the tongues of the redeemed? Will they be praising the glory of the Law of God, a Law which is righteous and pure and good, or, will they be praising the glory of the grace of God which led them out of sin into the very presence of the Father?
Surely the old glory will pass away, and the new glory will live forever.
(2) It is true because the glory of the Law pales under the new and the greater glory of Grace. The character of God, His loving-kindness, and His tender mercies, were never set forth under the brilliant shining of the Law. God would never have been known as "the God of all grace," as the God Who is "not willing that any should perish," as the God Who "so loved the world that He gave," if His manifestation had ceased in the glory of the Law. It took Grace to reveal God in saving power. Thus does Grace far exceed in glory.
(3) It is true because the glory of God could not be steadfastly looked upon because of sin. Sin had blinded or veiled the eyes of the unredeemed. Until this day that veil remains upon the hearts of those who know not God.
When the grace of God was revealed, shining forth from Calvary's Cross, the veil was taken away, God anointed the eyes of the blind, with eye salve, that they might see. Thus it is that, "We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory."
The reason that the unsaved can not steadfastly look upon God's glory, His righteousness and holiness, is because of sin and of guilt. When we look at the sun with the natural eye we are blinded.
The reason that the saved can behold the glory of God's righteousness is because they themselves have been made righteous through the Blood of Christ. They have been lifted into the sphere of righteousness, therefore they can, with unveiled face, gaze upon and glory in the righteousness of God.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR