IN thinking of man, it is easy to go to one of two extremes: either to look upon him as a majestic being ever moving onward and upward by his own innate power and increasing wisdom, or to think of him as so utterly depraved that he is deprived of all sense of responsibility, and so is but an automaton under the control of forces which he is powerless to resist.
Scripture presents man as the highest of God’s earthly creation, who lost his place of pre-eminence through sin, but who is still the object of God’s love and is capable of being renewed through grace and given the place of son in the family of God.
As all are involved in one common ruin, we are not to despise any, but, recognizing the fact that Christ died for all, we are to consider every man as a potential saint, for none are so far from God but that there is salvation for them if they turn to Him in repentance, and trust the Saviour He has provided.
“Abba’s purpose gave us being
When in Christ, in that vast plan,
Abba chose the saints in Jesus
Long before the world began;
Oh, what love the Father bore us!
Oh, how precious in His sight! ―
When He gave the Church to Jesus!
Jesus, His whole soul’s delight!
Though our nature’s fall in Adam
Seemed to shut us out from God,
Thus it was His counsel brought us
Nearer still, through Jesu’s blood;
For in Him we found redemption,
Grace and glory in the Son,
Oh, the height and depth of mercy!
Christ and we, through grace, are ones!”
—Hawker.