4. Only a ‘ great God ‘ could redeem us from all iniquity.
How did He do this? By the shedding of His on blood as we learn from Eph.1:7;Heb.9:12;1 Pt. 1:18,19. Notice that He died to redeem us from all iniquity. In relation to the past, He redeemed us from the guilt and penalty of sin – look up 1 Cor. 15:3 ; in the relation to the present ; He redeemed us from the power and grip of sin – look up Rom. 6:14 ; in relation to the future, He will redeem us from the presence of sin at His coming – look up Rom. 8:22,23. But now see how our verse goes on – ‘ and purify…’
5. Only a ‘ great God ‘ could purify sinful men and women.
How does He do this? Can any effort on our own cleanse us? No – but God can, and He does this in three ways:-
1. He cleanses by His blood – 1 Jn.1:7 tells us this.It refers to the initial cleansing from the guilt of sin, and to our standing before God.
2. He washes with His Word – Eph. 5:25,26 tells us this – look up and compare Psm.119:9 with John 15:3. This is the cleansing of our daily walk – compare John 13:10.
3. He purges through His Spirit – look up Matt.3:11, and recall the great purging that took place when the Holy Spirit came down at Pentecost and filled the hearts and transformed the lives of God’s people. But God’s motive in giving Himself for us was not only to purify us, but in order to make us His own people.
6. Only a ‘ great God ‘ could choose a peculiar people for Himself.
What is the meaning of these words ‘ peculiar people ‘, in verse 14? Are Christians to be peculiar, odd? No, the phrase means, ‘ a people for His own possession, a special treasure ‘ – look up Ex. 19:5; Deut. 4:20; 32:9. God has set apart a certain people for Himself, to be His own special possession , in order to make these people His own He has chosen them in eternity past – look up Eph. 1:4; died for them upon the cross – look up Gal.1:4; called them -look up Acts 15:14; and indwelt them by His Spirit – look up Jn. 14:6. But there is one more thing to notice: the Lord’s purpose in all this was that we might be a people ‘ zealous of good works ‘.
7. Only a ‘ great God ‘ could make His people zealous of good works.
A modern translation of the phrase is – ‘ a people with hearts set upon living a life that is good ‘. The meaning is this: God our Saviour gave Himself for us that we might live God-glorifying , fruitful , Christian lives. are we enthusiastic in our living and in our service for Him?
One day the Saviour will ‘ see of the travail of His soul ‘ and will be satisfied with the fruits of His Calvary work – look up Isa. 53:11. One day ! – but how about now? Does He see of the travail of His soul now…?
Next devotional – ” The Miracle Of God’s Saving Grace ” ( Titus 3:3-8 )