I N D E X
15
These all converge in one ultimate object, namely, the declaration of the righteousness of God Himself, even
though He justifies ungodly sinners through faith. It may be worth restating thus:
The free gift
The redemption
The declaration
unto eis
of God's own
The faith
righteousness
The blood
As we progress in the knowledge of God and His ways, the apostle can leave these figures, and express our
complete standing in such terms as `Accepted in the Beloved'; `Made meet for the inheritance of the saints in light';
`Ye have put on (reference to clothing enduo) the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true
holiness'.
Let us conclude this brief attempt to set forth one of the aspects of redeeming love, by quoting from the well
known words of Luke 15. We are not told in so many words that the Prodigal Son was in rags but the fact that he
was in want, and fain would have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat, reveal enough to help us
realize his destitute condition. On the way back home he rehearsed what he would say, but his father cut him short.
`Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet ... For this my son
was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found' (Luke 15:22,24).
`He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes' (1
Sam. 2:8).
`Him that was possessed with the devil ... sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind' (Mark 5:15).
? RAGS or ROBES ?