By Ronald Bartanen
“Now you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich” (1 Corinthians 8:9).
Similarly, Paul wrote the Philippians concerning Christ, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-10).
He that put off the heavenly robes of royal majesty to don the swaddling clothes of a Jewish infant did so for you—that you might become rich in His glory. He left the presence of holy angels to company with vile humanity, with the goal of going to the cross and dying for your sins. “…[T]hough he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich.”
How rich are you? There are riches men strive for in this world, and possibly attain, but find themselves paupers as they depart this life. The riches that endure the test of both time and eternity are only the riches provided for us in Christ. The riches men covet in this world will come to naught, while even the poorest of mankind who love the world anticipate an inheritance unequalled in this world. Paul spoke of the partaking of “the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:23). Have you let Jesus Christ enrich you? Have you Acknowledged your own poverty, dependent upon the riches of His grace? Have you, trusting Him for cleansing through the blood He shed for you at Calvary, turned in repentance from all that is abhorrent to Him and committed your life to Him in baptism? (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16) And do you then continue to walk in faithfulness to Him that He might daily enrich you by His grace? How rich are you?
“Now you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich” (1 Corinthians 8:9).
Similarly, Paul wrote the Philippians concerning Christ, “Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in the earth, and things under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:9-10).
He that put off the heavenly robes of royal majesty to don the swaddling clothes of a Jewish infant did so for you—that you might become rich in His glory. He left the presence of holy angels to company with vile humanity, with the goal of going to the cross and dying for your sins. “…[T]hough he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye, through his poverty, might be rich.”
How rich are you? There are riches men strive for in this world, and possibly attain, but find themselves paupers as they depart this life. The riches that endure the test of both time and eternity are only the riches provided for us in Christ. The riches men covet in this world will come to naught, while even the poorest of mankind who love the world anticipate an inheritance unequalled in this world. Paul spoke of the partaking of “the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had before prepared unto glory” (Romans 9:23). Have you let Jesus Christ enrich you? Have you Acknowledged your own poverty, dependent upon the riches of His grace? Have you, trusting Him for cleansing through the blood He shed for you at Calvary, turned in repentance from all that is abhorrent to Him and committed your life to Him in baptism? (Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:38; 22:16) And do you then continue to walk in faithfulness to Him that He might daily enrich you by His grace? How rich are you?
- Ronald Bartanen is a retired minister who for many years served the Lord's church in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee. He may be contacted through the website: http://arthurcoc.com/
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