[April 4th, 1858.]
The connection and the design of the passage.
What Paul was called to preach was the unsearchable riches of Christ. This may mean either the riches which belong to Christ— those things which make him rich—or the riches of which he is the author, the unsearchable treasures of grace and benefits which flow from him to both Jews and Gentiles. The former includes the latter, and is the natural sense of the words.
This passage is of special interest. First, as teaching us where we, in ourselves poor, may find true riches, and where only they can be found; and, second, as teaching the precise or specific duty of the ministry. If they do what is here mentioned they do their duty; if they do not this, whatever else may be done in promoting virtue, knowledge, or the well-being of man, they are unprofitable servants. What then are the unsearchable riches of Christ? The word Christ here is a personal designation, not an official title. It is the historical person sometimes designated Jesus, sometimes Christ, sometimes Lord, the Saviour, etc., who is here intended. And therefore his riches are those things which rendered the Lord Jesus infinitely rich, and being in himself infinitely rich, therefore infinitely valuable and precious to us. These are,
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The fulness of the Godhead, the plenitude of the divine perfections. In the constitution of his person, the divine nature was united with a perfect human nature, so that the one person known as Christ, possessed and possesses all the divine perfections. He is infinite, eternal, and immutable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice and truth. Bring any man to the side of Christ, compare the intellect, the intelligence, the power, the goodness of the one with the other. Then we see how poor man is and how unsearchable are the riches of Christ. The highest angel sinks in like manner into absolute insignificance when brought into comparison with Christ. His preciousness to us as a portion, as an object of affection, and his value to us as Saviour depends on his being in this sense rich, rich to an unsearchable, i.e., to an infinite degree in all divine perfections. If they were taken away, what would be left? It is the great object of the ministry to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ, i.e., to proclaim him as possessing all divine perfections in an infinite degree. If men are brought to see and acknowledge this, then are they converted and saved.
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The unsearchable riches of Christ includes his infinite love, compassion, condescension and tenderness. These are divine attributes as belonging to his divine nature, and human attributes as belonging to his human nature; they are distinct. Christ’s love to us as the Logos and his love as a man, are as different as the divine and human. In Christ both are united, as the natures are, in one person. It is altogether impossible to trace out or to comprehend the value, the preciousness, the attractiveness, the suitableness, which results from this union of the divine and human natures in the person of the Lord. If simply God, he is too intangible, too august, too unapproachable; if simply man, he is nothing. But as God and man, he is all we can desire and possess. Our blessedness depends on our approaching and confiding in this infinite love, tenderness and compassion of our Lord. And our great business as ministers is to persuade men that these treasures of love and mercy are to be found in him.
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The riches of Christ includes, a. His infinite merit. The efficacy of his blood to cleanse from all sin, the merit of his righteousness to satisfy the divine law. b. The inexhaustible fountain of holiness, i.e., of sanctifying power which resides in him, and which flows out in ever increasing streams for the healing of the soul and for the healing of the nations. c. The infinite resources which he possesses to render his people blessed and complete in him.
Observations
(1) He is ours by appropriating faith. (2) The sin and folly of neglecting this richness. (3) Duty and glorious privilege of offering and recommending him to others.
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