CHRIST OUR ALL IN ALL

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 8, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 10.

CHRIST OUR ALL IN ALL.

HE who was called Jesus the Christ in the flesh was with the Father "before the world was." John 17:5. His "goings forth have been from of old, from the days of eternity." Micah 5:2, margin. By him were created the glorious suns and systems of suns, and countless worlds, wheeling their endless cycles in illimitable space. From his hand came forth all the creatures of intelligence which people these worlds; "without Him was there not anything made that was made." He not only made all these things, but the same word which called them into being upholds them in their varied paths; "for by him do all things consist," and he upholdeth everything "by the word of his power." In all this he was only exercising his own royal prerogatives,—infinite wisdom, love, and power,—received by inheritance from the Eternal Father. All this was the Godhead manifested through God the Son.

But one of the shining worlds which came forth from his hand in perfection marred that perfection by sin, and from sin came its inevitable results, woe, misery, and death. Man yielded to the Dark One who had rebelled against Heaven, and united with him against God.

It would seem, faintly as we can comprehend even "the parts of God's ways" which are visible to the eye, faintly as we can comprehend the wisdom and love which ordered and established such a home for men, that God's wisdom and love were exhausted in the creation. But no. Their most wonderful manifestation is yet to be revealed. Infinite pity stooped down to poor fallen humanity, saw and was touched by his weakness, his woe, and his misery, and Infinite Love became a substitute to die for man, an enemy. Christ "emptied himself" that God might fill him with his own fullness, in order that he might show to the rebel world how much God loved them, how terribly they had sinned against that love, and how earnestly God wanted them to return and share that love. All this and more was revealed by our Lord Jesus Christ. His death was but the climax of the sacrifice of all that had gone before. Love and sacrifice marked every step of the way from the first giving of himself before Christ came to this world, to his words upon the cross, "it is finished," and his life was offered a ransom for guilty man.

But Jesus is not a dead Saviour. His death marked the measure of his love. The mighty Creator of the universe dies for sinful, rebellious man. But he has power as well as love. In emptying himself he gave room for God to work. "For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell." "For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily." He laid down his blameless life, but the grave could not hold him. Acts 2:24. The mightiness of his righteousness triumphed over death, and he arose, a living Redeemer.

And now his Infinite wisdom, power, and love are exercised for all who will trust him, who will walk in his paths. Such is the wondrous wisdom of that plan that it cannot be overthrown by art, deceit, or subterfuge of all the craft opposed to it, and yet it is so simple that the little child may grasp it. Its wondrous power has triumphed supreme over the prince of opposers. His love transcends all love. Where sin abounds grace does much more abound.

All that he asks is that we shall do as did the eternal Son of God,—yield ourselves, renounce self and choose Christ, give up the sins, the ambitions, the temptations, the acts in all of self, and accept in its stead Christ Jesus. For your best garment, which is "filthy rags," he will give you his own spotless robe of righteousness; for the ashes of humiliation and disappointment he will give his glorious beauty; for mourning he will give the oil of joy; for the spirit of heaviness he will give the garment of praise; and the crown of thorns we may here wear for his

sake will be transformed into a crown of life and glory.

"For in him dwelleth all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him." "Not in ourselves?"—No; not in ourselves. In ourselves must be emptiness. We can do nothing, we have nothing, we are nothing. In Christ is the fullness, the completeness. All we can do is to believe and choose Christ in preference to self. This is all he asks. All can meet his requirements. What more do we wish? What more can we ask? Wisdom infinite, riches untold and eternal, power all-triumphant, are found in him. Will you not choose him? He longs to be all in all to you; will you not let him?