CO 5{THERE are two great aspects of the gospel in this chapter, first, That to which we are called, and for which we are made fit; second, The testimony God has brought out of sin in us, and Christ's work meeting it. It is good to apprehend what the calling of God is, in order to know what is needed to be in it. There is no reconciliation of the old thing as such, but complete reconciliation
in the new man. The judgment of man is pronounced, "now is the judgment of this world." God's dealings with man in the flesh are
over, the flesh is set aside forever. In the new state of things brought in by Christ in resurrection, “all things are of God." As to the body we are not in it yet, therefore it is good to be “absent from the body and present with the Lord." The moment we get hold of our calling “to his kingdom and glory" (
1 Thess. 2:1212That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:12)), we are brought into the presence of God, He is also enabling the soul to apprehend the glory. It sees that a work entirely of God must be done in order that man may enter glory. Could you put yourself into Christ's glory? "He that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God." The presence of God revealed to the soul, gives true thorough conviction of sin. It does not mind what man thinks, because it knows what God thinks. Sin is a shameful thing, but the presence of God produces thoughts that are beyond
shame. The moment the soul is before God, it hates, judges sin, cannot think of hiding it, would rather be in truth before God-"there is truth in the inward parts;" shame before man leads to the concealment of sin. God's true light manifests everything, but when the heart is set right, it takes God's side against sin-there is forgiveness; all is right when looking at what we are in the presence of God. We are called to "God's kingdom and glory" to be conformed to the image of His Son. We have a life; divine glory belongs to that life. It is
God that justifies. He says that is right in my eyes, God Himself pronounces. That is what I want; this full blessed justification connects itself with glory: "Whom he justified them he also glorified." "We wait for the
hope of righteousness." (
Gal. 5:55For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. (Galatians 5:5).) This is what God is calling us into in Christ. That which is announced in the gospel is Christ as man is in divine glory. It is "the gospel of the glory of Christ." That has been done which has put man into the glory of God. This new thing is man, the center of all the glory of God. It will be accomplished of course in Christ by-and-by, "that in the dispensation of the fullness of times, he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth"-or as it is expressed in Revelation, "the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof." It is to this glory of Christ we are called. It shines in upon the soul. Are you fit for this glory? If not, what are you fit for? You can't stay here on earth forever. Where are you going? If not into the light it must be into the darkness, that is opposite to it. There is no medium. We have this in the parable of the king's son-Jesus had spoken of seeking fruit before; now He is speaking of grace that seeks nothing, it is a feast prepared. Those bidden are from the highways and hedges, and no matter what they were before, but they
must have the wedding garment. The prodigal must have the best robe to enter the house-he must be suited to the house. Have you, my reader, got that? We see what the calling is; can you say, “I have got what is fit for the glory I am going into"?