"To the praise of the glory of His Grace wherein he hath made us accepted in the Beloved." (Ephesians 1:6) Our ideas of grace correspond with our ideas sin. One who thinks himself good and deserving will have diminutive ideas of God's grace in his salvation and one who regards himself as a poor unworthy sinner will have the highest ideas of grace. The Savior said he to whom most is forgiven will love most. So he that sees himself as most unworthy will love most and he will have the most exalted ideas of grace.
"Wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved." We are made acceptable through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, and through the righteousness that is imputed to us, and through the washing of regeneration. In this we are made accepted and acceptable in the beloved. Paul regarded himself as the chief of sinners and he had an exalted view of that grace that had taken him as a brand from the burning. No one can adore the grace of God who has not deplored his condition as a ruined and justly condemned sinner. Brother Luckett chose the text at the commencement of this article to be used at his funeral and he was sensible that his sins were great and many and so he rejoiced in Christ Jesus and had no confidence in the flesh and understood the words, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved direction like me." Bless it is the man who has been taught in his heart. "What is the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness towards us." (Ephesians 2:7) When we learn it this way we never forget it.
Messenger of Peace - April 1917
Special thanks to Elder David Montgomery for his labors in compiling the excellent two volume set of Oliphant's works.
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