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Greater Riches than the Treasures in Egypt
No.1.
All things ours, in Christ (I Cor. 1: 30; 3: 21 - 23).
pp. 123 - 126
In another series of articles, the typical history of Israel from the Exodus to the Jordan
came before us as we considered the application to ourselves of the text:
"The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions" (Obad. 17).
In the present series we carry these typical lessons with us in heart and mind and
survey those blessings which are ours in Christ, and ask ourselves as we do so, how far
can we truthfully say that we "possess our possessions"? We are sure that God will abide
faithfully by all His promises, but there is such a thing as apprehending that for which we
have been apprehended of Christ Jesus (Phil. 3: 12).
The blessings that are ours through Christ can be considered under three headings:
(1)
Blessings of Salvation. Such would include: Justification, Sanctification, Forgiveness,
Life and Peace.
(2)
Blessings of our Calling. Such blessings would be "dispensational" in character, and
look to the sphere of blessing, the character of our calling, "Heavenly places" and
"One Body" for example.
(3)
Blessings in Service. True service is rendered in newness of life, and accomplished by
the power of the Risen Christ.
Two related passages in I Corinthians will open this series of studies by their very
comprehensiveness, sweeping aside all human merit, and revealing unlimited blessing to
be the believer's portion in Christ Jesus.
The reader knows that the Corinthian Church was split up into coteries, one claiming
Paul, another Apollos, another Cephas, and yet another Christ Himself as a party leader.
The Corinthians moreover, being Greeks, placed a high value on human wisdom, and this
the Apostle brings to the touchstone of the Cross. Although Paul uses strong language as
he denounces the folly of these believers, he concludes his double attack upon "man's
wisdom", not with invective or censure, but by revealing that all the time, if any man is in
Christ, he already possesses all things including "wisdom" at its highest. Here are the
two passages.
"Ye see your calling . . . . . that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him are
ye in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption; that, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him
glory in the Lord" (I Cor. 1: 26-31).
"Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or
Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come;
all are yours; and ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's" (I Cor. 3: 21-23).