"God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all." (I John 1:5).

"He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is. love." (I John 4:8).

"He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without
blame before Him in love." (Eph. 1:4).

God is light, and God is love; and we are called to be like Him, and to enjoy Him as such. This
is God’s calling; but we are the called_chosen in Christ, that we should be holy and without
blame before Him in love. This is the description of God’s own character, though it is here given
as the character of His children. Surely this is grace in its highest form. It breathes a well-pleased
and delighting love. Do think of this, O my soul. Hurry not over the wondrous thought. This is
it:when God would tell us what He is Himself, He describes what His children are_a son is the
same nature as His father. "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." True, He is love; but
He is also light; and He dwells in the pure unsullied light of His own absolute deity. And there
He has called us and fitted us to be in the fitness and acceptance of, the risen and exalted Man.
This is what God Himself has made us in Christ; for ever blessed be His name!

But pray, tell me this:How can Christians be in the presence of God as holy, blameless and love,
seeing there is so much in us that is the opposite of all this? This is a point of much importance,
and of great practical difficulty with many souls. But the answer is:the apostle is speaking of what
we are in Christ; not of what we are, or have been, in ourselves. Our old nature is not referred
to here_it is passed by unnoticed. Of course the old nature is in us, and no better than it ever was,
and we must take care and not let it show itself. But we are chosen and called in Christ_He is our
life; and we are, before God, in the Beloved One. This is the explanation, and in this the heart
finds rest_Christ is holy in His character_blameless in His ways_love in His nature. And we
are in God’s sight as He is. If God is to find pleasure in His children, they must be like Himself.
Christ is the object of God’s unqualified delight, and so will we be, by-and-by. This is the hope
of His calling. Oh! deep, divine, ineffable, unutterable, unfailing spring of happiness now_of
unmingled blessedness hereafter! "We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, for
we shall see him as he is." Therefore God has chosen us in Christ "that we should be holy and
without blame before him in love". We are brought thus into His presence and His love is
satisfied. Oh! most wondrous, precious truth! All is done, Christ is risen and glorified. "In thy
presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." It is only there that
perfect blessedness can be found. With what a hope the calling of God fills the heart! His name
alone have all the praise.

But this is only the bright side of the answer to the question. The state, or practical ways of the
saints, is not always a true reflection of their standing and privileges in Christ. We come far short
of what becomes the children of God in many things. How feebly we answer to His love; and how
many things we allow that are contrary to Him. Whence come pride, vanity and worldliness? we
may ask. Certainly not from the divine nature. These, and all other evil things, flow not from our
new, but from our old nature. Although our standing is in Christ,, the flesh is in us, and ought to

be mortified. In it there is no good thing. How often we have reason to be ashamed and humbled
on account of our many faults. But ere long we shall have done with the flesh entirely, and be
perfectly holy and without blame before God in love. He has chosen us to this end, and will in due
time accomplish it. This is our sure hope. But in the meantime, may we seek to suppress our old
nature and watch against all its tendencies. We know that we are in Christ now, and have Hid life
in us, notwithstanding all our failures. May we have grace to feed on Him day by day and hour
by hour that we may be strengthened to do His will.

FRAGMENT
"Though our nature’s fall in Adam
Seemed to shut us out from God,
Thus it was His counsel brought us
Nearer still, through Jesus’ blood;
For in Him we found redemption,
Grace and glory in the Son,
Oh! the height and depth of mercy!
‘Christ and we through grace are one.’ "
Hawker_ 1827

FRAGMENT
Adoption is putting into a place. Birth makes us children:adoption makes us sons. John always
speaks of children:Paul uses both words _ ‘sons’ and ‘children.’ Eph. 1:5 is, son-putting, or
adoption. Adoption is taking you into His house. The spirit of sonship gives you the place, and
the spirit to fill the place."