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I. WHAT CHRIST'S SAINTS OWE TO HIM.

1. A debt of everlasting love. "Unto Him that loved us."

2. The debt of their redemption.

3. The debt of glory. He "hath made us kings and priests unto God, even His Father." "A kingdom of priests," some will read it. Be it so. Then they are, in reality, what the Israelites were typically, "a kingdom of priests, an holy nation, a peculiar people." In the light of this interpretation we see the significance of the washing previously mentioned; for when any one of that royal and priestly nation had contracted any ceremonial uncleanness, before he was restored to his national privileges — or when any one was called to minister to God in the priestly office, before he was consecrated to the service — and every time before he went into the temple to minister — it was ordained that he should be washed. Or, let us interpret, as promising separate offices in glory, that expression "kings and priests." We have here evidently a complete reversal of their condition before regeneration. Once they were slaves, now they are not only set free, they are made kings to God. Once they were afar off, now they are not only brought nigh, they are engaged as priests in His own immediate service; kings and priests to One to whom to serve in the most menial capacity, in the outermost courts of His earthly temple, were a dignity of surpassing honour.

II. We will now advert TO THE ASCRIPTION BY THE SAINTS TO CHRIST, IN ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF THEIR OBLIGATIONS TO HIM, OF GLORY AND DOMINION FOR EVER AND EVER — which glory and dominion, you will observe, are the very things of which Christ disrobed Himself in order to accomplish their salvation; and common justice demands that they should be restored to Him when the work is done; nay, more, that they should not only be restored, but restored with increase.

(G. Campbell.)

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KJV: John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;

WEB: John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;