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ENRICHED IN HIM
William Mealand
THERE is a divine eloquence in the thought that we are
enriched in Him. Note the fullness, the completeness so resident in the
words, as they lie enshrined in Scripture. "For in everything are you
enriched in Him, in all expression and all knowledge" (1 Cor.1:5).
In everything enriched. Made wealthy for all time in the bestowal of a
great assurance, a rare position, and a most blessed standing. Nothing is
wanting, "for in Him the entire complement of the Deity is dwelling
bodily. And you are complete in Him who is the Head of every sovereignty
and authority" (Col.2:9,10).
The value of such a standing lies in the thought of its being in
Him--the Christ of God, the Son of His love, glorious Head over all. A
standing, truly, of wondrous worth, and one utterly beyond us, had not God
revealed the grace of it to our hearts.
The heart of man did not ascend, nor could it aspire to such transcendent
grace. It must be God-revealed. And so, through Paul, it came to our
hearts in the light of His Word.
God shines in our hearts, and then alone, illumination is ours. For, by
His spirit, God brings us to, see, and also to realize, that in Christ is
our completeness. Not in ourselves, for there can be no abiding self
satisfaction. None in themselves can find repose of heart and mind. It can
but be in God's Beloved, even "in accord with His delight, which He
purposed in Him."
We see, then, how it is all of God that we should be so enriched in the
Son of His love, and given so perfect a standing. God has given us His own
sublime point of view. He has shown us that, in His sight, we are
complete. And, as a writer well expressed it, "It belongs no more to the
giant in spiritual things than it does to the mere babe in Christ. The
saint of fifty years' standing is in the sight of God not one atom more
complete in this respect than the youngest believer." Of course, in the
realization of so great a truth, one may have a deeper sense of it, but
what God wants us to see, and truly grasp, is what the position is in
itself and in His own sight.
It is the simple and obvious which is often passed by. And this is deadly
true of the religious world. Man is too much in the picture. Far too much
is he thrown back on himself, or on that vague term "Christianity," which
by radio he is so often told to embrace and accept. Rarely is the Christ
of God set before him as the all glorious risen Son of God, Lord of the
universe, and the One to whom God has assigned future Rulership of all the
realms of space.
It is, then, in Him that our completeness lies. What Christ is to God,
that He should be to us. That is so all-important in the life of a
believer. A grand subject for study is the Ephesian letter, for therein we
see all that God has made Christ to be to His people. But so many fail to
perceive this truth, that Paul so clearly unfolds. They are taken up with
the four evangels and the sermon on the mount as being central to their
faith, so do not see all that God has made them to be in Him. Hence they
are ignorant of their standing in Christ, and of their perfection in Him.
By so many, the so-called Lord's prayer and the ten commandments are
considered as sufficient for Christian position and profession. As a
consequence the sheer freedom and blessedness of grace is not enjoyed. For
this rare unalloyed pleasure and the glad experience of God's peace, we
should study Paul's letters, for in them we have the loftiest presentation
of Christ as the all glorious Son of God. And the apostle to the nations
brings Him so wondrously near to our hearts, and thus to our lives.
Especially in the Ephesian letter shall we find it so, for there he seems
to reach the very pinnacle of grace. We are so taken up with God, the
Father of Glory, and His choice and placing of us in the Beloved. What a
standing and what a position and privilege is accorded us, and all "in
accord with the counsel of His will!"
So, reading on and on, we find Paul's earlier statement, already quoted,
fully confirmed. "For in everything are you enriched in Him, in all
expression and all knowledge." And in this epistle, with its companion
letters to the Philippians and Colossians, nothing is wanting to our
completeness, our maturity as sons of God. There is a fullness of
expression and of knowledge that makes us wise indeed and full of praise
to God for the grandeur of His sublimest revelation.
Now, the assurance of salvation God would have us know is a permanent
experience. It is not a thing of fits and starts, of transient feelings
and emotions. It is an utter resting upon God's valuation of the
incomparable worth and sacrifice of Christ. We therefore want to think of
it as God thinks, Whose thoughts are unfolded to us in the Word of His
grace. And let us ever bear in mind that the truth of the evangel of the
glory of the happy God, with which Paul was entrusted, is not shaken by
its not being believed. It remains true whether it is accepted or not.
However, God, being the happy God, wants us to exult in the tremendous
character of it. Not to think of it in a numerical sense, as though it
were to be judged by present day estimates with their various limitations.
If we are wise to the marvelous extent and reach of God's saving grace, we
shall the more appreciate its present worth and ultimate triumph.
Having, then, so perfect a standing, and one so altogether unmoved by this
passing world, let us so grasp the glory of it as to intensely realize its
power in our lives. Thus shall we experience a state in full keeping with
our standing. But to know where we stand is vital. Then it follows, in
God's own way and sequence, that our walk the more truly adorns the
teaching of God as set forth in His Word.
We do well to remember that our character, however moral, does not
determine this rare position before God. It is the realization of our
position, and its attendant privilege, which effects our attitude and
character before men. So often, to use a simple expression, "the cart is
put before the horse." Far too frequently are people exhorted to do
things, than just to believe God and to take His valuation and acceptance
of Christ. And, resting there, to draw from it power and strength.
Conscious, therefore, of our standing in Christ, our aim should ever be to
raise our experience to its great level. As with Paul, it should be a case
of "this one thing I do." Be pursuing, be grasping, that for which you
were grasped by Christ Jesus. "Be carrying your own salvation into effect,
for it is God who is operating in you to will as well as to work for the
sake of His delight" (Phil.2:13).
There is a little word of Paul's quite worthy of note, especially in the
way he uses it. It is the simple word be. And there is power in it, far
more than in the word do. As you come across it you will see how
positive it is. And there is action involved in the word, also. Out of
many, here is a good illustration.
"Whatever is true, whatever is grave, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is agreeable, what ever is renowned--if there is any virtue, and
if any applause, be taking these into account. What you learned also,
and accepted and hear and perceived in me, these be putting into
practice, and the God of peace will be with you" (Phil.4:8,9).
How fine the concluding thought here--"the God of peace will be with you."
Paul was able to say, "I learned to be content in that in which I am."
Truly, God's peace "is superior to every frame of mind." Do we not see and
sometimes intensely feel, how such God-given language fits our need? By
all means, then, let us adhere to God's clear language, especially as
enunciated by Paul, true herald to the nations. For it is in such
expressions, that we most truly find the enrichment which is in Christ.
It is the highest medium of communication to our hearts, of God's purpose
in Christ--God's purpose of the eons as it vitally affects the recipients
of the evangel of the glory of Christ, and, indeed, as it affects the
entire creation of God. Nor is such attention any disparagement to other
writers of the Scriptures. Far from it, for all their writings contribute
to the whole. But in this era of grace, so ushered in, and opportunely by
Paul, we are the more concerned with the evangel he presents and heralds
to the nations.
It may truly be said that Paul's letters bring to the heart and mind the
highest truth concerning God and Christ, and that they bring that truth to
a perfect and sublime conclusion. For, while they unfold an ideal order of
going for believers of the nations, they also reveal a climax to God's
purpose most satisfying to Himself as also to the creatures of His hand.
As to the emergence of full glory in the final issue of God's grace, Paul
is a rare optimist with buoyant note. Only in reference to man and to
"man's day" is he the pessimist. Our Lord Himself touched upon it, and
His servant Paul discerned and experienced its fruit in a deep degree.
From Constantine, all down the ages, apart from fitful gleams of light and
obedience thereto, it has been and remains a dark picture.
But for the sons of light, though the night progresses, yet the day is
near. Yes, as God counts time, the day is near, and wonderful days to
follow, leading stage after stage to the cloudless day of God. The near
and the far unite in grace and glory. And the glory of the Son will find
full expression, for it will be the glory of a marvelous resignation, the
triumphant close of a perfect reign. For then at last He resigns His
throne, unquestioned and unmarred, to God.
"O day spring from on high, whose cloudless light
Has beamed upon me, banishing my night
With dawn of heaven. Sun of righteousness
Rise, oh for ever rise! and ever shine
Brighter and brighter! From all weeping eyes
Remove all tears, and over all the saints,
And over earth and heaven, and o'er the bounds
Of times dark night, and far into the depths
Of all the ages pour out the light,
Pour out the sea of glory, the full sea
Of all thy glory--inexhaustible."
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