Beyond Sunday: Christ's Gift to the Church

[Editor's note: Beyond Sunday is a Monday refresher to carry you through the week.]

Focus Verse of the Week

After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church--for we are members of his body. (Ephesians 5:29-30)

Commentary

All that Christ was has been given, and given by Himself; it is the entire devotedness and giving of Himself. And now all that is in Him--His grace, His righteousness, His acceptance with the Father, the excellent glory of His Person, His wisdom, the energy of divine love that can give itself--all is consecrated to the welfare of the Church. There are no qualities, no excellencies in Christ, which are not ours through the gift of Himself. He has already given them, and consecrated them to the blessing of the assembly, which He has given Himself to have. Not only are they given, but He has given them; His love has accomplished it.

We know very well that it is on the cross that He gave Himself; it is there that the consecration of Himself to the good of the assembly was complete. But here that glorious work is not exactly viewed from the perspective of its atoning and redeeming work, but from the devotedness and love to the assembly which Christ manifested in it. Now we can always reckon upon this love which was perfectly displayed in it. It is not altered.