THE GREATEST GIFT TO MAN
By A. G. D.
The One in Whom Every Good Thing Dwells — This Person Is Seeking to Impart These Blessings to Man
"BLESSED be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things in Christ." Eph. 1:3, margin. God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings. These blessings come through Christ. They can be received and enjoyed in their fulness only by receiving Him. Jesus Christ, then, is what men need, and all they need. Having Him, we have all. This is a saving truth to those who receive it. What Christ is in the great universe of God, and what He may be to every soul in this world, is clearly set forth in the Scriptures of truth. Of Christ we read, "For it pleased the Father that in Him should all fulness dwell." Col. 1:19. The fulness that dwells in Christ is the fulness of God the Father. "For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." Col. 2:9. It is thus that the Father reveals Himself to men. Said Philip to Christ, "Show us the Father, and it sufficeth us." Christ replied: "He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father. . . . The words that I speak unto you I speak not of Myself: but the Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works." John 14:8-10. Christ is not the Father; but He is "the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person." Heb. 1:3. He is "the power of God, and the wisdom of God." 1 Cor. 1:24. "Neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal Him." Matt. 11:27. WE HAVE ACCESS THROUGH HIM
These expressions help us to understand the declaration: "No man hath seen God at any time; the only-begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him." John 1:18. Jehovah has never revealed Himself personally to the world. He dwells in light unapproachable by man. We have access to Him through His only-begotten Son, who is His image, and power, and wisdom. We see the Father in the Son, for in Christ "dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily." And so it is absolutely true that Christ is "the Chiefest among ten thousand," and "altogether lovely." S. of S. 5:10, 16. He is the "light of the world." He is the "way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6. In Him "are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Col. 2:3. HE LONGS TO BE ALL FOR US
Now the blessedness of all this is that what Christ is in Himself, He longs to be to every soul in the universe. He tells us of the fulness of His wisdom, and power, and light, that we may be drawn to Him. He holds up these priceless treasures, that we may open our hearts and take them in. He wants every man to possess them. He has this fulness for all who are willing to receive it. John says, "Of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." John 1:16. He "is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption." 1 Cor. 1:30. Paul prayed that all men "might be filled with all the fulness of God." Eph. 3:19. He also prayed that "Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith." Eph. 3:17. Christ can not be separated from His light, His wisdom and power. He is light, and life, and power, and truth. Wherever He is, these are also. Hence when we take Him into our hearts by faith, we take in His fulness. "This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth." 1 John 1:5, 6. WHITE RAIMENT AND TRIED GOLD
By nature man is "wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked." Christ counsels us to buy of Him gold, that we may be rich; and white raiment, that we may be clothed, so that the shame of our nakedness shall not appear; and to anoint our eyes with eye-salve, that we may see. And then, to show us how to obtain these blessings we so greatly need, He says: "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me." Rev. 3:17-20. Christ loves fallen, sinful men. He yearns to impart to them His life, His righteousness, His power, and His peace. This He can do only by personal contact. He must abide within. And so He says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in." O that all would throw wide open the door of the heart, and enthrone Him, and thus receive from Him the fulness of blessing He offers to all! A. G. D.