1 Timothy 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. I. THE MANIFESTATION WHICH THE GOSPEL GIVES OF THE GLORY OF GOD. There are many sources whence we may derive some faint glimpses of the Divine glory. We may see it in the world around us, wherever we cast our eyes. This, then, we take it, is the glory of God; the revelation of His mercy and grace to sinful man. And this revelation is only to be found fully developed in "the glorious gospel of the blessed God." Here we see the attributes of Deity brought out with surpassing and undimmed lustre. Do we speak of Deity as the only wise God? We see this attribute also strikingly brought out in "the glorious gospel of the blessed God." Wisdom consists in the employment of the best means for the best ends; and although evident traces of this attribute are scattered all around us in the fitness of things to the manifest design contemplated, it is in the gospel alone that we discover the mightiest effort of Divine wisdom. II. THE COMPREHENSIVENESS OF ITS BLESSINGS. In this point of view, also, we shall see significantly brought out the truth of the text, that it is "the glorious gospel of the blessed God." The blessings of the gospel are calculated to meet all the wants and longings of man as a pilgrim destined for eternity. Here knowledge is offered, which, while it is worthy of the highest intellect to expend its gifted powers in boundless research, is also adapted to the meanest capacity; here is knowledge far superior to any that the philosophers of Greece ever taught, or the proud sons of Rome ever knew; here is knowledge which can penetrate with its illuminating influences the innermost darkness of the understanding, refine the affections, purify the heart, and regulate the life of man in his upward aspirations for heaven. Do you feel yourselves guilty before God? In the gospel you may learn the way to obtain redemption through the blood of Christ, even the forgiveness of sins. But more than this: the gospel offers the cleansing and renewing influences of the sanctifying spirit. It belongs to the glorious gospel alone to afford substantial and enduring joy. III. THE MAGNITUDE OF ITS TRIUMPHS. The triumphs of the gospel were soon made manifest, even in the earliest days of Christianity. IV. THE SIMPLICITY OF ITS REQUIREMENTS. Now the grand scheme of the gospel presents us with many things inscrutable to our understandings, which things, like the angels, we "desire to look into" (1 Peter 1:12); but what affects us much more than all is, the simplicity of the means by which the most mighty and blessed results are accomplished. In this simplicity of arrangement, so available by all, the glory of the gospel shines conspicuously and pre-eminently forth. Herein we discover the master-wisdom of the great Contriver, and are led to ascribe "glory to God in the highest." (W. J. Brock, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.WEB: according to the Good News of the glory of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. |
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