Image via author, unnamed lake, Wallowa Mountains, Oregon

On the idea of our restoration unto our God:

“Let us watch carefully how God has done this, so that ignorance of the ways of God may not rob us of our inheritance. First, it is God Himself who has done it, God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, “God our Saviour” as Paul loved to call Him; God alone, that in all things He might have preeminence. Not one grain of our re-creation in Christ is attributable to man, any more than our creation was. Man must learn and relearn his eternal condition – the nothing over against the All. And what a relief! Not my past righteousness (non-existent), not my present works (wood, hay, and stubble unless He works in me), not my future suitability (equally non-existent). All is His. His past planning, His completed redemption, His endless mercy and love.”

On our great redemption by Christ’s blood shed and His death in our place:

“Here is salvation in its first stage, God’s great salvation. The Judge became the condemned criminal. God the Son disguised His deity in human flesh, and “tasted death for every man.” The Author and Sustainer of life yielded up His own life to receive in Himself the wages of the world’s sin. As (hymn writer) Mrs. Cousins put it in her great hymn:

Jehovah lifted up His rod; O Christ, it fell on Thee!

Thou wast sore stricken of Thy God; there’s not one stroke for me.

Thy tears, Thy blood, beneath it flowed; Thy bruising healeth me.

Jehovah bade His sword awake, O Christ, it woke ‘gainst Thee!

Thy blood the flaming blade must slake; Thy heart its sheath must be-

All for my sake, my peace to make; now sleeps that sword for me.”