The Fourfold Treasure

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1 Corinthians 1:30

But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made to us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

I. OUR SPIRITUAL EXISTENCE.

1. Its origin, "Of Him," i.e., as some think, "through Him." Are you this day united to Christ — a stone in that building of which He is both foundation and topstone — a limb of that mystical body of which He is the head? Then you did not get there of yourself. "By the grace of God I am what I am." He "hath begotten us again unto a lively hope."

2. Its dignity. Being in Christ you are of God. God's husbandry, people, children, beloved. Some have thought it a great thing to be of a prince's household; but you are of the Divine family.

3. Its essence. We have no life except as we are "in Christ Jesus." Out of Christ we abide in death.

II. OUR SPIRITUAL WEALTH. Here are four things, and in the original the second and third have a peculiar connecting link. The wisdom stands alone, and the redemption, but the righteousness and sanctification have a special link, as though we should be taught that they always go together. Christ is made unto us —

1. Wisdom. The apostle had been speaking of some other wisdom which set itself up in opposition to the Cross. Now, instead of pointing to his own brain, or to the statue of Socrates or Solon, he says Christ is made of God unto us wisdom. There are those who will have it that the gospel such as was preached by Banyan, Whitefield, and Wesley, was very well for the dark times in which they lived; but that there is wanted in this intensely luminous century a more progressive theology. We are afraid that instead of bringing greater light, the advanced thinkers have made darkness worse. Christ makes us wise —

(1) By His teaching. All you want to know of God, of sin, of life, of death, of eternity, &c., Christ has either personally, or by His Spirit in the Word of God, taught you. Anything that you find out for yourself over and above revelation, is folly.

(2) By His example. You shall never be a fool if you follow Christ, except in the estimation of fools.

(3) By His presence. Let none of us ever be so foolish as to suppose that when we have received Jesus we have occasion to blush when we are in the company of the very wisest. Carry a bold face when you confront the brazen-faced philosophy which insults your Lord.

2. Righteousness. The doctrine of imputed righteousness is firmly established in the Word of God; yet it is possible to put too much stress upon "imputed," and scarcely enough upon "righteousness." Not only is Christ's righteousness imputed to me, but it is mine actually, for Christ is mine.

3. Sanctification.

(1) Because we are in Christ we have the basis of sanctification, which consists in being set apart.

(2) The power by which we are sanctified comes to us by virtue of our union with Christ. The Holy Spirit who sanctifies us through the truth works in us by virtue of our union with Jesus.

(3) Let Jesus always be the motive for your sanctification. Is it not a strange thing that some professors should look to Christ alone for pardon and justification, and run away to Moses when they desire sanctification? "The love of Christ constraineth us"; not fear of hell.

4. Redemption. Somebody says: "That ought to have come first; because redemption is the first blessing that we enjoy." Ay, but it is the last as well. You are not yet redeemed altogether. By price you are — but you are not yet redeemed by power. In a measure you are set free by Divine power, but there are links of the old chains yet to be snapped from off, and there is a bondage still about you from which you are ere long to be delivered. You are "waiting for the adoption, to wit the redemption of the body." Conclusion: If all this be the case, then let all our glory be unto Him. What insanity it is to boast in any but in our Lord Jesus! How foolish are they who are proud of their wisdom, of their wealth, &c.

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