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it more secure is to fail miserably. This perfect standing before God, this completeness in
Christ, is the basis of the words of Col. 2: 18:--
"Let no man, though he wishes it, defraud you of your prize, persuading you to self
humiliation and the worship of angels."
The seraphim veil their faces in the divine presence, "but we all with unveiled face, as
in a mirror, behold the glory of the Lord." We have "boldness of access with confidence
by the faith of Him." We do not glorify this wondrous grace by depreciating the
perfectness of the holiness which is ours in Christ. In ourselves we are nothing, but He is
all. Of ourselves we are darkness, but we may walk in the light as He is in the light, for
the precious blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin.
This then is the object of the Father's choice. What a calling is ours! Those who are
thus holy in Christ are called saints. These demand our love (Eph. 1: 15), our prayers
(6: 18), and only as we, in spirit, embrace all saints shall we begin to understand the
fulness of the love of Christ (3: 18). We cannot make ourselves holy, we cannot keep
ourselves holy, but the Lord asks us to "walk worthy of the calling" (Eph. 4:), for He has
"saved us and called us with a holy calling" (II Tim. 1: 9). In our next article we must
consider the motive which is revealed in this glorious passage.
Heb. 12:
9. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with
the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
10. And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works
of thine hands:
11. They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;
12. And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy
years shall not fail.
Rom. 12: 17
Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight (enõpion) of all men.
Rev. 4: 5
And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of
fire burning before (enõpion) the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.
Studies in the Epistles of the Mystery.
The Father's motive in love (Eph. 1: 4).
pp. 61-63
We have considered together the Father's choice and the Father's object. We now go
on in our study to contemplate the motive, the great first cause of the grace unfolded in
these verses, and we find it contained in the little word, in love.
Readers will observe that in the corresponding member B e, the Father's motive is,
"the good pleasure of His will." In either case the cause of our blessings is seen to be
outside of ourselves; they arise in their entirety out of the love, good pleasure, and will of
the Father. There is a close parallel here with the history of the Lord's dealings with
Israel. In Deut. 7: 6-8 we read:--