Keeping our perspective.

Galatians 4:8-9 “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more?”

I really like reading verses like this one, it helps me to keep a perspective on where Christ has led me from. It really allows me to see that great love wherewith Christ has loved me and redeemed me. “Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.” Before I was saved, I was enslaved to all the whims and pleasures of the world, unable to understand and comprehend God, given over to all manner of sin. In my own strength I was unable to overcome and relinquish this great power, to which I was in complete bondage too. My lost state I did not want to give up either, I followed it, trying to fulfill its every whim, and gain as much pleasure as possible. I was completely depraved, as it says in Romans and Ephesians:

Romans 3:10-12, and 18 “And it is written: None is righteous, no, not one, no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one. There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

Ephesians 2:1-3 “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.”

Just as Lazarus, laid dead in the grave and was unable to come forth from the prison of death, shackled by death. Even so I lay fast bound in sin, unable to break the bands of sin, and come forth to new life, life everlasting free from sin. But just as Christ stood at the tomb of Lazarus and said rise and come forth, so he did the same for me. He stood at the tomb of my heart, and said rise and come forth and broke the bands of sin. Christ did this independent of me, for there was nothing in me that made me worthy, that Christ should raise me from the dead, and to give me life everlasting. Yet he did it anyways, and he did it from eternity past.

II Timothy 1:9 “who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.”

I really like the way this verse that we started with relays this point so well, how that it show God’s power to save whom he wills, while still not neglecting men’s obedience to the gospel. “But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God” We have come to know God, and receive him by faith, but it says rather to be known by God. It is as if he says yeah it is good that you have come to know God, but this is better, that God hath known you.

The idea that God hath know us and chosen us in spite of our wicked nature which we possessed and followed; this should spark within us a desire to live holy lives, that are acceptable to God, casting off our old man, and putting on the new. No longer living according to our flesh, but seeking total obedience to God’s word. How can I ever think of turning back to the weak and beggarly things, knowing where God hath brought me from? How that he has shown me an overabundance of mercy and grace, in spite of my wickedness.

Ephesians 4:4-5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved.”

“whose slaves you once were” I like what John Owen says about becoming a slave to sin again.

“ If a man, in the things of this world, has such hope of a larger inheritance, of a kingdom, as wherein he is satisfied that it will not fail him, but that in the issue he shall surely enjoy it, and lead a happy and glorious life in the possession of it many days; if one should go to him and tell him, it is true, the kingdom you look for is an ample and honorable dominion, full of all good things desirable, and you may attain it; but come, cast away all hopes and expectations of it, and come join with me in the service and slavery of such or such an oppressing tyrant;” – you will easily grant he must have some strange bewitching power with him, that should prevail with a man in his wits to follow his advice. Yet thus it is, and much more so, in the case we have in hand. Sin itself cannot deny but that the kingdom of heaven, which the soul is in hope and expectation of, is glorious and excellent, nor doth it go about to convince him that his thoughts of it are vain and such as will deceive him, but plainly prevails with him to cast away his hopes, to despise his kingdom that he was in expectation of, and that upon no other motive but that he may serve some worldly cruel, or filthy and sensual lust. Certainly, here lies a secret efficacy, whose depths cannot be fathomed.”

I will leave off with a verse from a hymn song by Charles Wesley “And Can It Be”:

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and natures night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray;
I woke the dungeons flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed thee.