0093. 89. Chain of Golden Links

89. Chain of Golden Links

2Co_5:17-21

1. Divine Origin. “If any man be in Christ Jesus he is a new creation” (margin). The Christian life is an implantation of the Divine, a translation into the Divine, and a reproduction of the Divine.

2. Divine Operation. “All things are of God, who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ.” Three things are stated here—the worker, the means, and the blessing. The Worker is God. We are God-called, saved, justified, kept, used, filled, and sanctified. The means of our blessing is “by,” or more correctly, “by means of Jesus Christ;” and the blessing mentioned is, “we are reconciled to Himself.”

3. Divine Ordination. “Given to us the ministry of reconciliation… committed unto us the word of reconciliation.” All believers have this ministry and word committed and given to them. The word is that “God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself,” and the end and aim of all ministry, to get men reconciled to God and each other.

4. Divine Office. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ.” The counterpart of Christ for us is, we are for Christ. As lights to shine for Him, as witnesses to testify for Him, and as an embassage to be on service for Him.

5. Divine Opportunity. “We pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” As the priests of old acted for God and the people, so believers act for God and others. We pray to men for God, and we pray to God for men.

6. Divine Offering. “For He hath made Him to be sin for us.” He is a Message that has in it the melody of Heaven’s music, and yet how deep its meaning and mystery! “Made sin!” Made what I was and did! Yes, and that’s the reason He can make us other than what we are.

7. Divine Obtainment. “That we might be made,” or become, “the righteousness of God in Him!” Being “in Him,” who is the Righteousness of God, we must be what He is, even as the ingrafted shoot is part of the tree.

By: DR. F. E. MARSH