Romans 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? I. MAN REQUIRES IMMENSE SUPPLIES FROM GOD TO SECURE FOR HIM A HAPPY DESTINY. 1. The ordinary. All creatures must be dependent upon communications from their Creator for being and well-being. The wants of intelligent beings increase as they advance. The wants of a man are greater than those of an infant. The wants of civilised nations are greater than those of savage tribes. As an intelligent being advances, his need multiplies, his capacities expand. The greater the creature the more deeply does he feel his dependence. What oceans of blessings will one solitary spirit require from God to make it happy through the endless ages of its history! 2. The extraordinary. He needs the pardon of his sin — the rectification of all the errors connected with his intellect, conscience, and heart — supplies of moral power to vanquish his spiritual foes, to resist the evil and to pursue the good. Thus he requires from his Maker infinitely more than an unfallen spirit. II. THE GREAT GOD HAS ALREADY BESTOWED ON MAN A GIFT OF UNUTTERABLE WORTH FOR THIS PURPOSE. Who can express the infinite value of the gift in language more simple and significant than that of the text? 1, "He spared not His own." What? Worlds, systems, universe? These are toys in the comparison. His own Son. He did not keep Him back, as He might have done, when the miseries of humanity cried for Him. 2. "But delivered Him up." To what? To the heart of friendship — to the seat of honour? No; to the wrath of His enemies, to ignominy to unutterable anguish, to the hottest rage of hell. 3. "For us all." III. THIS GIFT IS A CERTAIN PLEDGE TO THE CHRISTIAN THAT WHATEVER ELSE IS NECESSARY SHALL FOLLOW. The argument is from the greater to the less, and may be illustrated as follows: — That this greatest gift — 1. Is of more worth than any amount of blessing that a Christian can possibly require through the interminable future of his being. 2. Was bestowed for the same end as that for which every other blessing will be needed, viz., to complete our happiness. Is it not certain that the Being who gave the greatest, and whose love and capacity are as great as ever, will give all the smaller blessings that are necessary? 3. Has not in the slightest degree lessened either the love or the capacity of the Giver. The gift is infinite, but the heart of the Giver is as benevolent as ever, and His means as ample. He is able "to do exceeding abundantly," etc. 4. Was bestowed when Christians were not in a position to appreciate the favour. Universal man was at enmity with God when He gave Christ. But Christians can, to some extent, value all other forces required. 5. Was bestowed without asking — Christians are praying for what else is necessary: And God has pledged answers to prayer. "Ask, and ye shall receive." Take heart, then, Christian. Don't be anxious. He that "spared not His own Son," etc, (D. Thomas, D.D.) Parallel Verses KJV: He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? |
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