"OF HIM, THROUGH HIM, TO HIM"
Text: Isaiah 4)12-14; Romans 11:33-36
Several years ago while preaching a sermon, I spent some time explaining a passage of Scripture by describing its grammatical structure, hoping to make clear a point of emphasis I wished to convey to the congregation. Following the service, a lady said to me, "Why don't you just preach grammar?" From her tone of voice and body language I discerned that she was not pleased with the way I had made my point.
But this was a challenge to me. I would do just what she suggested, I would preach a series of sermons on grammar. I presented a lesson on "The Grammar of Life," one on the "Prepositional Gospel," one on "God's Transitive Verb and Direct Object," and one on "Five Infinitives." I never heard what the lady thought about this.
I have told this story to suggest to you that today's lesson could well be entitled "The Prepositional Gospel," for it contains three powerful prepositions - From, Through, to. You will remember, of course, that a preposition shows relationship. When we read, "Of him, through him, to him are all things," we realize these three prepositions point to a special relationship we have with God.
Last Sunday, Pastor David very ably highlighted the position of Jesus Christ in his relationship to us as being the way and the only way to this God of whom, through whom and to whom are all things. In a sense, this is a continuation of that lesson.
We learn from our text that there is an Old Testament background for what Paul has written in our text. In describing Israel's God to them, Isaiah asks them some questions about their God, and what he had done in his creation, and then he asks: "Who has directed the Spirit of the Lord, Or as His counselor has informed Him? With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge, And informed Him of the way of understanding?" (Isaiah 40:12-14). These questions are similar to those God asked Job, after Job had asked God so many questions. See Job, chapters 38-41.
When we contemplate what has been said in these two passages, we come to the conclusion that it is all about God's power and grace. The context in which Paul wrote the words "from him, through him, to him," is where Paul is showing how through the disobedience of the Jews the Gentiles had been shown mercy; but now the Jews would likewise be shown mercy on the same basis the Gentiles were shown mercy - through the grace of God. "For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all." (Romans 11:32).
If this is a little difficult to grasp, then we need to continue reading: "For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things." Has God ever asked any of us about what he should do with the disobedient? Has he ever asked us about who he could extend mercy to?
We need to remember that all things are from God. In writing to the Corinthian church, Paul dealt with some of the problems of idolatry. "For even if there are so-called gods. whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things, and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and we exist through him" (1 Corinthians 8:5-6). There can be no doubt about where Paul stood in the matter of who is God, and who is Lord.
With this thought in mind, let us consider that creation is from God. "For in Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the first-born from the dead; so that He Himself might come to have first place in everything" (Colossians 1:16-20). When he says all things were created in him, he meant all things. There is nothing created that he didn't create. All the thrones and powers and authorities - all things were created in him. These things were created in him, came from him and through him and belong to him. He holds all things together. That is, he has authority over all things.
As we consider the creation of God, we think of the power of life that is in all of nature. There is power of life in the smallest seed. Jesus said of a grain of wheat: "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies it bears much fruit" (John 12:24). This is God's creation at work. The seed is planted in the earth. That seed which is planted in the earth dies, and out of that death comes a plant full of life and after a period of time will bear fruit just like the seed that was planted in the earth. And Paul describes this process in this way: "That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own" (First Corinthians 15:36-38). The grain that is planted is alive when it is planted; however, in the earth it dies that a new body will come forth. This is God at work in nature. "From Him are all things."
Let us consider further the works of God in the process of the birth of a child. The Psalmist gives us a beautiful description of this process in the 139th Psalm:
For Thou didst form my inward parts;
Thou didst weave me in my mother's womb.
I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Wonderful are Thy works,
And my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from Thee,
When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.
Thine eyes have seen my unformed substance;
And in Thy book they were all written,
The days that were ordained for me,
When as there was not one of them.
In this process God weaves together the female egg and the male sperm in the womb, and out of that unformed substance comes a child - a new-born baby with all its parts functioning as God planned it. "From Him are all things."
As we consider this human body with all its functions working together to maintain physical life, a body which God calls his temple, we are in awe as to how it functions. Think of the ears that can receive sounds and distinguish between the sounds so as to be able to communicate with those making the sounds. Communication would be impossible if no one's ears ever functioned. Yes, we are wonderfully made.
We consider the wonderful workings of the eyes. Man has been able to invent machines that can send forth signals and receive signals that portray images, and even do this in color; but the eyes God made have always been able to do this. The ears and eyes work together with the brain and system of nerves sending and receiving signals, enabling the seeing and hearing to work together in wonderful communication with God's nature.
We think also of the workings of the respiratory system in keeping the body alive. The digestive system works wonderfully to help distribute nutrients throughout the body. Then there is the circulatory system that keeps the life-blood flowing to all parts of the body. Indeed, we are wonderfully made. Yes, and all this comes from God.
Let us also consider that grace and mercy come from him. We referred earlier to the fact that relationship with God is dependent upon the grace and mercy of God. Just before Paul declared that all things come from God, he said of the Gentiles and Jews "For God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all" (Romans ll:32). Just as many as were shut up in disobedience, that many were shown mercy - it was to all. Some explain this as meaning that not every individual was in disobedience, and not every individual received mercy; but it was all sorts of people who were disobedient and all sorts of people that received mercy.
When we turn to the 5th chapter of Romans, we get a different perspective, I believe. In Romans 4:9 Paul states that both "Jews and Greeks are all under sin." And again in verse 10 we read, "There is none righteous, not even one." And in verse 23, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." We do not have the time to look at all of chapter 5, but just at the last few verses (17-21). "For if by the transgression of the one, death reigned through the one, much more those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ. So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. For as through the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the One the many will be made righteous. And the Law came in that the transgression might increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." From God came the grace and mercy that touches all people.
Let us consider that peace comes from God. Paul speaks of a peace that passes all understanding. He says: "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7). Just before Jesus went to the cross, he said to his disciples, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" (John 14:27). Again he said, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). From him are all things, including peace.
Let us now consider that "Through Him are all things." We are assured more than once that we are conquerors through him. Paul declares that "in all things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us" (Romans 8:37) And he goes on to say that there is nothing that can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus.
Closely connected with the fact we overcome the things of the world through God, we also gain the victory though Jesus Christ. John declares that "whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world - our faith" (1 John 5:4). God gives that victory through Jesus Christ, as Paul assures us. "But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, 'Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (First Corinthians 15:54-57). Let's get the picture: when was death swallowed up in victory? The sting of death was sin; but the power of sin was the law. Christ came to fulfill the law. When the law was fulfilled, the power of sin was gone, the sting of death (or sin) was gone, and Jesus in fulfilling the law had swallowed up death in victory. Through Jesus, God gave us the victory over sin.
Consider also that it was by, in or through the name of Jesus that salvation was provided for
all. Peter said to those who had arrested him for teaching about Jesus, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12). And Paul says of Jesus, "Therefore also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11). A careful study of this passage will show that the name at which all should bow is Lord.
We also consider that "to Him are all things." All things belong to him. We are reminded that life came from him and belongs to him. Jesus said to his disciples, "I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly" (John 10:10). This abundant life I believe is the eternal life that comes from God. Paul said that it is God "who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see" (1 Timothy 6:16). Since God alone possesses immortality, only he can give it. Through Christ we have that life, but that life belongs to God. "To Him are all things." Paul continues this thought in 2nd Timothy 1:9-10. "Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity, but now has been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death, and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." Here is that victory over death in the immortal life given through Jesus Christ. That life belongs to God and is to be given back to him.
Not only is life from him and to be given to back him, so is love. John describes this love in First John 4:15-21. We will not take time to read all of this, but we want to point out that love comes from God and is to be returned to God: "We love, because He first loved us." "God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him." When we love as God loved us, we return to him the love he has given to us.
Consider the service we owe to God. "To Him are all things." Speaking of the cleansing blood of Christ as compared to the blood of animals, the Hebrew author says, "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" (Hebrews 9:14). We are cleansed to serve. Again the Hebrew author says, "Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe" (Hebrews 12:28). It is out of gratitude for what has come from and through him to us that we give to him in the service we render. To him our service belongs.
Consider our worship. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at Jacob's well "Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, shall you worship the Father. You worship that which you do not know; we worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. God is spirit; and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth" (John 4:20-24). Our worship belongs to God. He is the only God we are to worship. Everything belongs to him. We are not to worship in the shadowy things of long ago, in the offerings of animals; but we are to worship him in truth - in reality. Around the throne the elders poured forth their praise, saying, "Worthy art Thou, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed and were created" (Revelation 4:11).
What is our relationship with God in view of "from Him, through Him, and to Him are all things?" Realizing this, we should cry out "Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and unfathomable His ways! . . . To Him the glory forever. Amen."
CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO THE START OF THE MAIN PAGE OR use the "Back button" on your browser to get back to where you left the main page.