02.05. Of the Christians debt of love
5. Of the Christians debt of love From the contemplation of what has been said, we see plainly thatGodis to beloved, and that He has a just claim upon ourlove. But theinfideldoes not acknowledge the Son ofGod, and so he can know neither theFathernor theHoly Spirit; for he that honoureth not the Son, honoureth not theFatherwhich sent Him, nor the Spirit whom He hath sent (John 5:23).
He knows less ofGodthan we; no wonder that helovesGodless. This much he understands at least--that he owes all he is to his Creator. But how will it be with me? For I know that myGodis not merely the bounteous Bestower of mylife, the generous Provider for all my needs, thepitifulConsoler of all mysorrows, thewiseGuideof my course: but that He isfarmore than all that. Hesavesme with anabundantdeliverance: He is myeternalPreserver, the portion of my inheritance, myglory. Even so it is written, “With Him is plenteous redemption” (Psalms 130:7); and again, “He entered in once into the holy place, having obtainedeternalredemption for us” (Hebrews 9:12). Of Hissalvationit is written, “He forsaketh not His that be godly; but they arepreservedfor ever” (Psalms 37:28); and of Hisbounty, “Good measure, pressed down and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom” (Luke 6:38); and in another place, “Eye hath not seen norearheard, neither have entered into theheartof man, those things whichGodhath prepared for them thatloveHim” (1 Corinthians 2:9).
He will glorify us, even as the apostle beareth witness, saying, “We look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body” (Php 3:20 f); and again, “I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18); and once more, “Our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen (2 Corinthians 4:17 f). ‘What shall I render unto the Lord for all His benefits towards me?” (Psalms 116:12).
Reason andnaturaljusticealike move me to give up myself wholly tolovingHim to whom I owe all that I have and am. Butfaithshows me that I shouldloveHimfarmore than Ilovemyself, as I come to realize that He hath given me not my ownlifeonly, but even Himself. Yet, before the time of full revelation had come, before the Word was madeflesh,diedon theCross, came forth from thegrave, and returned to HisFather; beforeGodhad shown us how much Helovedus by all this plenitude ofgrace, thecommandmenthad been uttered, “Thou shaltlovetheLordthyGodwith all thineheart, and with all thysouland with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5), that is, with all thy being, all thyknowledge, all thy powers. And it was notunjustforGodto claim this from His ownworkandgifts. Why should not the creaturelovehis Creator, who gave him thepowertolove? Why should he notloveHim with all his being, since it is by Hisgiftalone that he can do anything that is good? It was God’s creativegracethat out of nothingnessraisedus to thedignityof manhood; and from this appears ourdutytoloveHim, and thejusticeof His claim to thatlove. But how infinitely is the benefit increased when we bethink ourselves of His fulfillment of thepromise, “thou,Lord, shaltsaveboth man andbeast: how excellent is Thymercy, OLord! “ (Psalms 36:6 f.). For we, who “turned ourgloryinto the similitude of acalfthat eateth hay” (Psalms 106:20), by ourevildeedsdebased ourselves so that we might be compared unto thebeaststhatperish. I owe all that I am to Him who made me: but how can I pay mydebtto Him whoredeemedme, and in such wondrouswise?
Creationwas not so vast aworkas redemption; for it is written of man and of all things that were made, “He spake the word, and they were made” (Psalms 148:5). But toredeemthatcreationwhich sprang into being at His word, how much He spake, whatwondersHewrought, whathardshipsHeendured, what shames Hesuffered! Therefore whatrewardshall I give unto theLordfor all the benefits which He hath done unto me? In the firstcreationHe gave me myself; but in His newcreationHe gave me Himself, and by thatgiftrestored to me the self that I had lost.Createdfirst and then restored, I owe Him myself twice over in return for myself. But what have I to offer Him for thegiftof Himself? Could I multiply myself athousand-fold and then give Him all, what would that be in comparison withGod?